News from across the CollegeContensis: http://www.contentmanagement.co.ukhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/socsci/news.aspx?SyndicationType=22015-03-03T19:19:37ZIn death, Boris Nemtsov embodies the hope of a better RussiaNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Adrian Campbell. For Russia to make peace with its troubled post-Communist history, it needs a 1990s hero to remember. Boris Nemtsov could be just that.2015-03-02T17:19:00Z2015-03-02T16:53:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/in-death-boris-nemtsov-embodies-the-hope-of-a-better-russia-38242Blog: The expansion of arms-length government is not necessarily at odds with democratic accountabilityNathan JohnsonHow democratic is arms-length government? Catherine Durose, Jonathan B. Justice and Chris Skelcher argue that those who consider it to be an undemocratic phenomenon over-simplify, and make the case for assessing the question in a more citizen and community focussed manner.2015-03-02T16:45:00Z2015-03-02T16:19:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2015/03/02/the-expansion-of-arms-length-government-is-not-necessarily-at-odds-with-democratic-accountability/IDD Guest seminar podcast: Corporate influence on institutional development in an emerging economy: The case of ChinaNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Professor John Child, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. This seminar examines the role of large corporations in shaping institutional development, with particular reference to China. Although institutions are potentially powerful actors in the Chinese business environment, reflecting considerable control by government and Party, there has been scope for non-Chinese corporations to influence the development of their regulations and policies.2015-02-27T12:20:00Z2015-02-27T12:18:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/02/corporate-influence-on-institutional-development-in-an-emerging-economy-china.aspxIDD Guest seminar podcast: Programming the poor for the global marketNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Paul Cammack, Professor of Global Political Economy, City University of Hong Kong.2015-02-26T15:37:00Z2015-02-26T16:35:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/02/programming-the-poor-for-the-global-market.aspxIGS podcast: The Greenest Nation on Trial: German Environmentalism in PerspectiveNathan JohnsonSpeakers: Axel Goodbody (University of Bath), Silke Mende (Centre d'Histoire de Sciences Po, Paris), Frank Uekötter (University of Birmingham).2015-02-26T14:53:00Z2015-02-26T14:27:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/02/greenest-nation-on-trial.aspxBlog: The future is analogue – confirms local government's Honey ManNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game is a Visiting Lecturer at INLOGOV. Of all the reactions to Northamptonshire County Council's controversial 'Next Generation Model' – abandoning service provision in favour of outsourcing everything to 'specialist social enterprises' – few can have been as measured and dispassionate as my colleague Ian Briggs' reflections on the merits or otherwise of Public Interest Companies (PICs).2015-02-26T11:35:00Z2015-02-26T11:00:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2015/02/19/pickles-shock-horror-news-biggest-councils-have-biggest-tax-arrears/Blog: All eyes on ManchesterNathan JohnsonWritten by Catherine Needham, Reader in Public Policy and Public Management at the Health Services Management Centre. If you live in Birmingham, like I do, you could be forgiven for feeling slightly green-eyed at what is going on in Manchester at the moment. After the unprecedented devolution package that the city secured at the end of 2014, it has today been announced that Greater Manchester will be given complete control of its £6 billion NHS budget.2015-02-26T09:14:00Z2015-02-26T10:59:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2015/02/25/all-eyes-on-manchester/How Israel's military stopped Netanyahu attacking IranNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Scott Lucas. A release of top-secret documents indicates that Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has exaggerated – and possibly lied – with his repeated claims that Iran is on the brink of a nuclear bomb.2015-02-26T09:14:00Z2015-02-26T09:13:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/how-israels-military-stopped-netanyahu-attacking-iran-38009Blog: Getting to Grips with Public Interest CompaniesNathan JohnsonWritten by ian Briggs. The recent announcement by Northamptonshire County Council heralding a move towards a 'next generation model' where four public interest companies are to be established to deliver front line services and leaving a core client organisation of around 150 employees adds to the growing number of councils (and other parts of the public sector) who are seeking to adopt this model. What is interesting here is that is goes far beyond the tired rhetoric of what is best, direct public provision or privatisation?2015-02-24T16:27:00Z2015-02-24T16:13:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2015/02/23/getting-to-grips-with-public-interest-companies/After 75 years, the Dalai Lama is more important than everNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Tsering Topgyal. It is three quarters of a century since the Dalai Lama's coronation as the temporal and spiritual leader of Tibet. He is now almost 80-years-old and still presents a dilemma for Western leaders, who routinely come under pressure from Beijing not to meet him whenever he visits their countries.2015-02-24T10:05:00Z2015-02-24T09:49:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/after-75-years-the-dalai-lama-is-more-important-than-ever-37499Moscow holds aces as bombing rattles shaky Ukraine ceasefireNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). . Just as the latest peace deal to stabilise Ukraine was being put into place, a bomb exploded in the city of Kharkiv, killing two people and injuring at least ten, while another was found and defused in Odessa.2015-02-23T14:16:00Z2015-02-23T13:56:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/moscow-holds-aces-as-bombing-rattles-shaky-ukraine-ceasefire-37879Blog: Pickles' Shock-horror News: Biggest Councils Have Biggest Tax ArrearsNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game, Visiting Lecturer at INLOGOV. Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles is famed for his sensitive news antennae. I wonder therefore just what – in a week dominated by revelations of his party's and government's moral flakiness on the whole tax collection business – persuaded those antennae that it would be a good time to attack local authorities' tax collecting record.2015-02-20T15:07:00Z2015-02-20T14:45:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2015/02/19/pickles-shock-horror-news-biggest-councils-have-biggest-tax-arrears/The Handbook of International Security and DevelopmentNathan JohnsonThe handbook is designed to give a comprehensive survey of the state of the art in current thinking on this issue and combines practitioners experiences with academic approaches. The Handbook includes a wide range of contributors, many of whom have links to IDD, such as Honorary Professor, Mark Duffield, and also several members of IDD and UoB staff, including Paul Jackson, Danielle Beswick﻿, Laurence Co﻿oley, Nicolas Lemay-﻿Hebert, Heather﻿ Marquette and Rosa Freedman.2015-02-20T14:38:00Z2015-02-20T14:37:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/02/handbook-of-international-security-and-development.aspxBlog: Core Activities: notes from the Core Cities Summit, February 2015Nathan JohnsonWritten by Daniel Goodwin, Associate Fellow of INLOGOV. On the 11th February over 300 people from across the public sector met for the Core Cities Summit in Glasgow. This post summarises the point reached so far and some of the conference's live issues, and suggests three areas for further consideration: how to involve MPs and MSPs more fully, engaging communities in the debate and considering what kind of country the UK should become.2015-02-20T13:46:00Z2015-02-20T14:43:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2015/02/13/core-activities-notes-from-the-core-cities-summit-february-2015/The Soviet Union is dead! Long live the Russian economic unionNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Richard Connolly. Plummeting oil prices, conflict over Ukraine and the West's imposition of sanctions have contrived to send the Russian economy into a tailspin. But it is not just Russia that is suffering – the economic downturn is having a ripple effect well beyond its borders.2015-02-17T09:56:00Z2015-02-17T09:42:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/the-soviet-union-is-dead-long-live-the-russian-economic-union-37678Labour talks tough on banking reform, but little will changeNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Huw Macartney. Given the scandals, bonus increases and plummeting lending to small and medium-sized British businesses, reform of the banking system is likely to be a hot topic in the run-up to the general election. It is not surprising then that Labour has launched its plan on banking reform, which proposes measures to improve competition within the banking sector, lending to smaller businesses, and the culture of banking itself.2015-02-17T09:56:00Z2015-02-17T09:49:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/labour-talks-tough-on-banking-reform-but-little-will-change-37674POLSIS Seminar on Greek Elections Highlights Expertise in POLSISNathan JohnsonA Special POLSIS Departmental Seminar Showcases the expertise of two new members of staff.2015-02-13T16:40:00Z2015-02-13T16:21:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/02/greek-elections-seminar.aspxUkraine ceasefire announced at Minsk summit – what next?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. After all night talks in the Belarusian capital Minsk, the outcomes of the four party talks in the so-called Normandy format (Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany) have neither brought a major breakthrough or a complete disaster. As a deal, it is not a solution, but perhaps a step towards one.2015-02-13T10:00:00Z2015-02-13T09:34:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/ukraine-ceasefire-announced-at-minsk-summit-what-next-37532The international media is failing to report the Syrian war properlyNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Scott Lucas. February 2015 has already seen some major developments in Syria's four-year conflict. At the start of February, rebels launched more than 100 rockets into Damascus and the Assad regime fired mortars on areas of its own capital, hoping to discredit the insurgents. At least six people were killed in the attacks.2015-02-10T10:31:00Z2015-02-10T10:11:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/the-international-media-is-failing-to-report-the-syrian-war-properly-37290Why peace in Ukraine won't save the Russian economyNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Richard Connolly. Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande's push for peace in Moscow has helped fuel optimism about the prospects for Russia's spluttering economy. On the morning of the meeting, the rouble had strengthened against the dollar and the euro, and both the dollar and rouble-based sections of the Russian stock exchange saw sharp gains. Unfortunately for those in the Kremlin, however, Russia's economic woes are so deep-rooted that peace in Ukraine is likely to offer only temporary respite at best.2015-02-09T09:40:00Z2015-02-09T09:22:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/why-peace-in-ukraine-wont-save-the-russian-economy-37302Greek Election 2015Nathan JohnsonDr George Kyris and Dr Sotirios Zartaloudis reflect on Syriza's victory in the Greek election and discuss what it might mean for the rest of Europe.2015-02-05T17:55:00Z2015-02-05T17:38:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/greece-election.aspxThe cyber threat to the United KingdomNathan JohnsonWritten by Gavin E L Hall (Doctoral Researcher in POLSIS). When the new government takes office in May 2015 one of the first tasks will be to initiate a Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).2015-02-05T17:38:00Z2015-02-05T17:30:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2015/02/cyber-threat-uk-05-02-15.aspxPodcast: The Greek Elections: Results and ImplicationsNathan JohnsonThe Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speakers: George Kyris and Sotirios Zartaloudis (POLSIS)2015-02-05T16:02:00Z2015-03-02T14:16:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/02/greek-elections.aspxAs its power grows, is the ECB overstepping its mandate?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Nicole Scicluna. The European Central Bank (ECB) symbolises the strange mix of politics and technocracy that marks EU governance. The bank was pushed to centre stage by the eurozone debt crisis and the unwillingness or inability of Europe's national governments to come up with timely solutions. Its rise as a political actor started while it was led by Jean-Claude Trichet, but it has become much clearer under his successor, Mario Draghi.2015-02-05T15:42:00Z2015-02-05T15:30:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/as-its-power-grows-is-the-ecb-overstepping-its-mandate-36997Ed Balls pledges £30 billion to English regions – and that's not allNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. Two noteworthy things happened in Milton Keynes on Monday morning. Ed Miliband chaired the first meeting of Labour's English Regional Shadow Cabinet – comprising mainly leaders of councils and combined authorities. And, as a curtain-raiser, shadow Chancellor Ed Balls announced that, if Labour forms the next government, it will transfer £30 billion-worth of funding for housing, transport, business support, employment and skills training to England's regions.2015-02-05T15:42:00Z2015-02-05T15:36:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/ed-balls-pledges-30-billion-to-english-regions-and-thats-not-all-37138International court upholds Srebrenica massacre verdictsNathan JohnsonWritten by Louis Monroy Santander. In 1995 the Bosnian Serb army killed more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims in what was known as the Srebrenica massacre. And after nearly 20 years and a ten-year legal battle, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has upheld its guilty verdicts against five of the men involved, confirming sentences of between 18 years and life for what has been judged to be a crime against humanity involving genocide.2015-02-05T10:45:00Z2015-02-05T10:28:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/international-court-upholds-srebrenica-massacre-verdicts-37003Prime Evil: why South Africa is releasing Eugene De KockNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Paul Jackson. The release of Eugene de Kock, former commander of the notorious Vlakplaas counterinsurgency unit responsible for numerous clandestine assassinations in apartheid South Africa, raises a number of critical issues with respect to justice in societies in transition.2015-02-04T13:33:00Z2015-02-04T13:32:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/prime-evil-why-south-africa-is-releasing-eugene-de-kock-37007How stable is Saudi monarchy after King Abdullah's death?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Scott Lucas. On 23 January, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah died at the age of 90 and was succeeded by his half-brother Salman, 79, one of the last sons of Saudi Arabia's founder Ibn Saud. The regime is keeping a watchful eye on dissent, including in the mainly Shia Eastern Province, and on internal security amid concerns over returning fighters from conflicts such as the Syrian crisis.2015-01-30T12:11:00Z2015-01-30T11:37:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2015/01/how-stable-is-saudi-monarchy-29-01-15.aspxPodcast: EU as an international security actorNathan JohnsonThe Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speaker: Adrian Hyde-Price (Gothenburg), Discussant: Derek Averre (POLSIS/CREES).2015-01-30T11:37:00Z2015-01-30T11:22:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/01/eu-as-an-international-security-actor.aspxExplainer: what is Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Galina Yemelianova. The death of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has stirred debate about the future direction of the world's richest Arab state. That direction will be significantly coloured by how his brother and successor, King Salman, approaches Wahhabism – the religious sect that is at once an intrinsic part of the state and its biggest threat.2015-01-30T11:06:00Z2015-01-30T10:59:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-wahhabism-in-saudi-arabia-36693Podcast: International Relations: All That MattersNathan JohnsonThe talk introduced Professor Ken Booth's latest book, which seeks to provide an accessible but sophisticated understanding of international relations for those with no specialised knowledge of the field (which is almost everybody in the world).2015-01-30T09:59:00Z2015-01-30T09:42:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2015/01/international-relations-all-that-matters.aspxLebanon is cracking under the pressure from Syria and IraqNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Christalla Yakinthou. Lebanon has always been a complicated jigsaw, but despite years of war, regional conflict, and meddling in its affairs, it has displayed a tremendous ability to absorb tension. But the threads that hold this fragile country together are rapidly starting to fray.2015-01-28T10:50:00Z2015-01-30T10:51:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/lebanon-is-cracking-under-the-pressure-from-syria-and-iraq-36167Putin's plan to fight recession in Russia also increases Kremlin's control of the economyNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Richard Connolly. The Russian rouble started 2015 in much the same way it finished 2014: badly. After losing nearly 50% of its dollar value between July and the end of the year, the rouble lost a further 7% in January. The primary cause of this continued decline is the falling price of oil: Brent crude has dropped from US$53 dollars per barrel at year end to just under US$48 per barrel, a decline of nearly 10% for the year so far.2015-01-26T10:34:00Z2015-01-30T10:35:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/putins-plan-to-fight-recession-in-russia-also-increases-kremlins-control-of-the-economy-36655Ukraine sliding towards all-out war despite mediation effortsNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. Over the past few days, Ukraine has taken a significant turn for the worse. Fighting between rebels and government forces has intensified, the civilian death toll has increased, and the war of words between Ukraine and Russia has further escalated.2015-01-26T10:24:00Z2015-01-30T10:24:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/ukraine-sliding-towards-all-out-war-despite-mediation-efforts-36608Why the fight against Islamic State is not the success we're told it isNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Scott Lucas. Ministers from 21 countries gathered in London on January 22 to discuss the fight against Islamic State (IS). They had their photo opportunity and issued their statements. US secretary of state, John Kerry, told them that almost 6,000 jihadists had been killed, and almost 700 square kilometres of Iraqi territory retaken.2015-01-26T10:23:00Z2015-01-30T10:24:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/why-the-fight-against-islamic-state-is-not-the-success-were-told-it-is-36619Oil crisis: can short-term pain lead to economic gain for Russia?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Richard Connolly. The recent crash in oil prices is causing much anxiety in oil-producing states. From Iran to Venezuela, many have come to rely on elevated oil prices to fuel economic growth and support government spending.2015-01-23T16:55:00Z2015-01-30T11:45:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2015/01/oil-crisis-22-01-15.aspxBlog: Shuffling the decks: quick fixes versus long-term stabilityNathan JohnsonDevelopment Progress Blog. Ahead of the launch of our case studies on security progress in Liberia and Timor-Leste, Suda Perera writes on the risk that 'quick fixes' to violent conflict pose to development in the long-term. Taking the example of the Democratic Republic of Congo, she outlines the pitfalls of empowering warring parties and the challenging reality that good elections do not necessarily result in good democracy.2015-01-23T16:55:00Z2015-01-23T16:42:00Zhttp://www.developmentprogress.org/blog/2015/01/22/shuffling-decks-quick-fixes-versus-long-term-stabilityIDD Guest seminar podcast: Local governance in the Commonwealth: Existing practices and emerging trendsNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Munawwar Alam, Commonwealth Local Government Forum2015-01-23T15:57:00Z2015-01-23T15:50:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/01/local-governance-commonwealth.aspxPodcast: Ethnic minority political representation in Britain: the end of the Race Relations Paradigm?Nathan JohnsonThe Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speaker: Maria Sobolewska (Manchester), Respondant: Dr Chris Allen (University of Birmingham.2015-01-22T11:44:00Z2015-01-22T13:57:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2015/01/ethnic-minority-political-representation-in-britain.aspxBlog: The fairness (or otherwise) of the 2015-16 local government finance settlementNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. In choosing to announce the 2015-16 local government finance settlement just eight days before Christmas, ministers presumably hoped – as, indeed, I'd expected – that the argument about the presentation of funding and spending cut statistics for local authorities, both collectively and individually, would have died away by mid-January. However, it hasn't, which is why I too am returning to the topic, which had its importance re-emphasised several times over the past week.2015-01-21T14:39:00Z2015-01-21T14:32:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2015/01/21/the-fairness-or-otherwise-of-the-2015-16-local-government-finance-settlement/Podcast: Trust, technology and salvation: An investigation of President Reagan's nuclear speechNathan JohnsonLaura Considine is a Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Leeds. She received her PhD in International Politics from Aberystwyth University in 2014 and was a John W. Kluge Fellow at the Library of Congress in Washington DC in 2011.2015-01-21T10:20:00Z2015-01-21T10:11:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2015/01/investigation-of-president-reagans-nuclear-speech.aspxObama's National Security Strategy: Predicting US Policy in the Context of Changing WorldviewsNathan JohnsonWhile the National Security Strategy (NSS) is a good predictor of an administration's policy, its declared strategic priorities are necessarily tempered by external reality, writes Dr Adam Quinn in a recent paper published by Chatam House.2015-01-20T11:40:00Z2015-01-20T11:20:00Zhttp://www.chathamhouse.org/publication/obamas-national-security-strategy-predicting-us-policy-context-changing-worldviewsIs Chechnya facing wave of jihadist violence?Nathan JohnsonOn 19 December 2014 BBC Europe News published an article by Dr Galina Yemelianova on recent Chechen bombing.2015-01-20T11:16:00Z2015-01-20T11:08:00Zhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/30476381At last, a show of force tips odds against Boko HaramNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Paul Jackson. Suspected Boko Haram militants have attacked Northern Cameroon in another escalation of their now regional war against Nigeria, Cameron, Chad and Niger. In a cross-border attack, the militants kidnapped around 80 people.2015-01-20T10:06:00Z2015-01-20T09:50:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/at-last-a-show-of-force-tips-odds-against-boko-haram-36448IDD Guest seminar podcast: The world of our unmaking: Rethinking peacebuilding intentions, events and consequencesNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Dr. Gëzim Visoka, Dublin City University2015-01-19T12:19:00Z2015-01-19T12:07:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2015/01/rethinking-peacebuilding.aspxBlog: Do Local Authorities Really Want Sustainable Construction Powers?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Max Lempriere. When it comes to setting sustainable construction standards new research reveals English local authorities favour national regulation over local powers.2015-01-19T09:53:00Z2015-01-19T09:37:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2015/01/19/sustainable-construction-powers/The arrival (and departure) of the parliamentary single-termersNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. All university admissions tutors know about single-termers. They are those students – some badly advised and intellectually bewildered, others more devious – who decide around mid-November that they want to change degrees, study elsewhere or just drop out. They're a pain, but higher education is a complex world and, after all, they are young. MPs, you might suppose, would be different. But in this parliament anyway, you'd be dead wrong.2015-01-19T09:52:00Z2015-01-19T09:35:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/the-arrival-and-departure-of-the-parliamentary-single-termers-36374Al-Qaeda's Yemen branch adds Paris attacks to list of successesNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. Al-Qaeda's most active and notorious branch – the Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) – has claimed responsibility for the attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris. While some questions remain about the full credibility of the claim, it is not entirely implausible: it's been established that some of the attackers had been trained in Yemen, and at least one of them had met AQAP's former chief ideologue, Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born jihadist killed in a US drone strike in 2011.2015-01-19T09:32:00Z2015-01-19T09:25:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/al-qaedas-yemen-branch-adds-paris-attacks-to-list-of-successes-36308Ukraine steels for more unrest as Donetsk bus attack kills 12Nathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. The deadly attack on a bus carrying civilians near Donetsk, killing at least 12 of them and wounding many more, comes in the wake of yet another round of failed talks among the foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France. It also follows a pattern of persistent violence between rebels and government forces that has made a mockery of a ceasefire agreement brokered between the two sides back in September 2014.2015-01-15T09:26:00Z2015-01-15T09:19:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/ukraine-steels-for-more-unrest-as-donetsk-bus-attack-kills-12-36266Blog: New ways of working for district councilsNathan JohnsonWritten by Anthony Mason. My primary school history teacher always taught that the shires of England were mapped out by Alfred the Great. For me, that story was confirmed by an illustration in my treasured Ladybird book on the great man (Alfred – not the teacher) that shows four burly Saxons knocking in a waymark post as they lay out the boundary pattern. I still have that book. I later learned that while the reality was much more complicated, it is essentially true that much of our shire county structure would be familiar to a returning Anglo Saxon – even if not much else would be.2014-12-19T16:21:00Z2015-01-15T16:22:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/12/18/newwaysofworkingfordistrictcouncils/Putin meets the press – as state takes tighter grip of economyNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Richard Connolly. Vladimir Putin has delivered his annual press conference and at the top of the agenda was the Russian economy, reflecting that the turmoil buffeting the Russian rouble has reached critical levels.2014-12-18T16:34:00Z2015-01-05T09:35:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/putin-meets-the-press-as-state-takes-tighter-grip-of-economy-35680Huge Russian rate hike plays roulette with the economyNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Richard Connolly. Russia's Central Bank has raised its key interest rate from 10.5% to 17% in an emergency move that is designed to halt the ongoing collapse of the rouble, which has accelerated in recent weeks. The dramatic intervention comes after the rouble suffered its worst one-day fall since the August 1998 financial crisis.2014-12-16T13:58:00Z2014-12-16T13:37:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/huge-russian-rate-hike-plays-roulette-with-the-economy-35568Blog: The journey to the common: what is the role of the voluntary sector?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Anna Coleman and Julia Segar. A recent publication by the New Local Government Network (NLGN) looked at how local councils are preparing for the future and suggests depressingly that "there is simply no way that local government can reach 2018 let alone 2020 while still delivering the full range and quality of services currently on offer"(p6). Simply put, we have an ageing population, with associated increasing demand for care services and draconian cuts in council budgets.2014-12-12T11:44:00Z2014-12-12T11:23:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/12/12/journey-to-the-common-what-is-the-role-of-the-voluntary-sector/IGS podcast: Disobeying Hitler: German Resistance in the last year of WWIINathan JohnsonSpeaker: Randall Hansen (University of Toronto).2014-12-11T14:33:00Z2014-12-11T14:19:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/12/disobeying-hitler.aspxIDD Guest seminar podcast: From the inside: A development academic's reflections on three years at the World BankNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Willy McCourt, Senior Public Sector Specialist, The World Bank.2014-12-11T14:12:00Z2014-12-11T14:50:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/12/development-academics-reflections-world-bank.aspxPodcast: Ethics in Syria: Analysing the International ResponseNathan JohnsonThe Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security, in conjunction with the Centre for Global Ethics, organised this timely panel discussion of the ongoing crisis in Syria. Leading academics and human rights activists convened a panel to discuss the ethics of responding to the crisis in Syria.2014-12-09T17:10:00Z2014-12-09T17:18:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2014/12/ethics-in-syria.aspxRussia's economy is failing, but that gives it a chance to reformNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Richard Connolly. Since the summer, the global price of oil has plummeted. After hovering above the US$100 per barrel level since 2010, prices have declined by around 40% in the space of just a few months. Brent crude has fallen below the $70 a barrel mark, with OPEC's recent decision to leave production levels unchanged raising the possibility that oil prices may have further to fall.2014-12-09T10:24:00Z2014-12-09T10:01:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/russias-economy-is-failing-but-that-gives-it-a-chance-to-reform-35215Blog: The LGC100: what it does and doesn't measureNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. I used, years ago, to have a whole Pol Sci 1 lecture about power and influence, their similarities and differences. By one of life's synchronicities, I've been reminded of it twice in the past week. Don't go – I'm not about to disinter it, although I will share the six-word summary that I could, if really pushed, get it down to: Power's a tool, Influence a skill.2014-12-05T14:11:00Z2014-12-05T14:10:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/12/05/the-lgc100-what-it-does-and-doesnt-measure/FIFA offers a surprise lesson on how to reform post-conflict Bosnia and HerzegovinaNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Laurence Cooley. Bosnia and Herzegovina recently held its seventh general election since the end of the 1992-1995 war – a conflict that left more than 100,000 dead. On the face of it, the obvious victors of these elections appear to be the country's dominant nationalist parties, which have held power for almost two decades.2014-12-05T11:38:00Z2014-12-05T11:36:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/fifa-offers-a-surprise-lesson-on-how-to-reform-post-conflict-bosnia-and-herzegovina-34633IDD Guest seminar podcast: Using aid as a sanctioning device: The case of budget support suspensions?Nathan JohnsonSpeaker: Dr Nadia Molenaers, Institute of Development Policy and Management, University of Antwerp.2014-12-05T10:39:00Z2014-12-05T10:38:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/12/using-aid-as-a-sanctioning-device.aspxFocus on the CaucasusNathan JohnsonA roundtable on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, a presentation on the challenges and choices of the South Caucasus and participation at conferences in Baku highlight research strengths and interest in the Caucasus.2014-12-04T16:18:00Z2014-12-09T15:21:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/12/focus-on-the-caucasus.aspxMoldova's future in the balance after uncertain election resultNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. Moldova has gone to the polls in a vote seen as crucial for determining the country's future direction. Preliminary results indicate that the pro-European parties together achieved about 44% of the vote, while those parties considered to be more pro-Russia came in with just under 40% of the vote, on a turnout of around 56%. These headline figures, however, mask a more complicated picture.2014-12-02T15:45:00Z2014-12-02T14:45:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/moldovas-future-in-the-balance-after-uncertain-election-result-34895IGS podcast: The Dark Side of EU-rope: Imperium Europaeum?Nathan JohnsonSpeakers: David Engels (Université Libre de Bruxelles), Hauke Brunkhorst (University of Flensburg). .Chair: Julian Pänke (IGS)2014-12-02T12:30:00Z2014-12-02T14:07:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/12/the-dark-side-of-eu-rope.aspxBlog: The future is Intercommunality – yes, but with whom?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. Rom com/date movies aren't really my thing, so my excuse for watching the recent Words and Pictures was that I was a captive plane passenger – and that the ever-watchable Juliette Binoche was playing a rheumatoid arthritic abstract painter and prep school art teacher. The title refers to the silly challenge she charily accepts from alcoholic poet turned plagiarising English teacher, Clive Owen, to 'prove' whether Words or Pictures are more meaningful.2014-12-01T11:19:00Z2014-12-03T12:35:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/12/01/the-future-is-intercommunality-yes-but-with-whom/Iran nuclear deal will come down to economic pressureNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Scott Lucas. Iran has failed to reach an agreement with six world powers about the future of its nuclear programme after talks. Talks in Vienna about the future of Iran's nuclear programme have failed for the time being. The countries involved have agreed to resume discussions in December with a view to reaching a political agreement by March 1 next year and a final deal by the end of June.2014-11-27T09:59:00Z2014-11-27T09:49:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/iran-nuclear-deal-will-come-down-to-economic-pressure-34668Tower Hamlets residents must be wondering why they bothered to voteNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. With a forced smile and through gritted teeth, Tower Hamlets' elected mayor, Lutfur Rahman, has announced himself willing to accept – and even "welcome" – the intervention package set out for his borough by Eric Pickles, secretary of state for communities and local government.2014-11-21T13:33:00Z2014-11-21T13:32:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/tower-hamlets-residents-must-be-wondering-why-they-bothered-to-vote-34440Blog: The PwC report on Tower Hamlets highlights fundamental tensions in local democracy, not always thought through clearly in new mayoral systemsNathan JohnsonWritten by Michael Keith. Competent bureaucrats commonly believe they protect the public interest by delivering transparent decision making in public institutions. This is commendable. Politicians normally believe that they are elected to carry out the wishes of their voters. This is forgivable. But these imperatives rub against each other when politicians try reshaping things in an image they prefer and the bureaucrat wants to preserve an order they recognize. This is difficult.2014-11-21T12:34:00Z2014-12-03T12:34:00Zhttp://bit.ly/1yKtNgMBlog: Pickles' Tower Hamlets takeover: a sad affair all roundNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. He kept Communities and Local Government Secretary, Eric Pickles, waiting until almost literally the 23rd hour of the 14th day of his two-week deadline. In the end, though, Tower Hamlets' elected mayor, Lutfur Rahman, having last Friday lost his second, and ill-advised, application for a judicial review, was left with little choice.2014-11-20T16:49:00Z2014-11-21T13:49:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/11/20/pickles-tower-hamlets-takeover-a-sad-affair-all-round/IDD Guest seminar podcast: The Green State in Africa: Environmental politics, climate change and social movementsNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Carl Death, University of Manchester.2014-11-20T14:28:00Z2014-11-20T14:11:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/11/green-state-in-africa.aspxPodcast: Russia and the West since 1991: a tale of growing distrustNathan JohnsonThe high level of trust that had been constructed between western and Soviet leaders in the late 1980s and early 1990s was not sustained when western leaders had to face an independent Russia, even though the new Russia began with every intention of transforming itself into a full participating member of the international institutions set up after 1945 to keep the peace. However, Russians – not just their government – had come to view international institutions with profound distrust as having deceived them in both the economic and diplomatic spheres.2014-11-20T12:53:00Z2014-11-20T12:52:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2014/11/russia-west-since-1991.aspxAbe can win Japan's snap election but he needs to win bigNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Julie Gilson. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's decision to call a snap election for December 14 comes after what has been a rather bad week for him. Japan has slipped back into recession for the first time since 2012 and Abe has seen his popularity ratings drop below 50% for the first time.2014-11-19T17:28:00Z2014-11-21T13:29:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/abe-can-win-japans-snap-election-but-he-needs-to-win-big-34438Deciphering Obama's letter to the Supreme LeaderNathan JohnsonEarlier this week, it was reported by The Wall Street Journal that President Barack Obama had sent a secret letter to the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging him to accept the terms of a comprehensive agreement with the United States and other major world powers on the issue of Iran's nuclear programme.2014-11-17T11:14:00Z2014-11-17T11:08:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/11/obama-letter-13-11-14.aspxCreating tomorrow's leading social scientistsNathan JohnsonThe Birmingham Doctoral Training Centre is one of only 21 across the UK to be accredited by the ESRC. It has 22 ESRC scholarships to fund doctoral research starting in 2015.2014-11-17T10:54:00Z2014-11-17T10:51:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/dr-fees/ESRC-research-council.aspxBlog: What legacy will the rush to build houses leave for the next generation?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Ian Briggs. Many rural and semi-rural localities are struggling to cope with the increasing number of applications for potential new housing developments, a proportion of which seem to defy logic and sound planning sense when matched against local knowledge and established patterns of socialisation.2014-11-13T13:47:00Z2014-11-21T13:47:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/11/12/what-legacy-will-the-rush-to-build-houses-leave-for-the-next-generation/Fixing aid: we can't turn off the tap at the first sign of corruptionNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Heather Marquette. Over the past 15 years, those working in aid have changed the way they talk about corruption. Detecting and measuring corruption when money is sent overseas has become a hot topic since the United Nations...2014-11-11T08:56:00Z2014-11-11T08:55:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/fixing-aid-we-cant-turn-off-the-tap-at-the-first-sign-of-corruption-33769The big winner of the congressional elections is... Hillary ClintonNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Scott Lucas. The new Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, proclaimed his party would 'turn the country around' after Republicans gained seven seats in the Senate and extended its advantage in the House of Representatives. However, beyond the rhetoric, there may be a far different story and a different victor from Tuesday night's vote: Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee for the 2016 presidential election.2014-11-10T11:06:00Z2014-11-10T10:54:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/hillary-clinton.aspxResearchers contribute to Guardian debate on fragile statesNathan JohnsonIDD's Siân Herbert and Suda Perera were among the expert panellists for a live Q&A on approaches to development in conflict-affected states on The Guardian Development Professionals Network website.2014-11-10T10:26:00Z2014-11-10T10:10:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/11/researchers-contribute-to-guardian-debate-on-fragile-states.aspxIn Ukraine, the start of a new Cold War that Russia can't winNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). Twenty-five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall that ushered in the end of communism in eastern Europe and the break-up of the Soviet Union, all the signs point to a new Cold War between Russia and the West.2014-11-10T10:26:00Z2014-11-10T10:16:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/in-ukraine-the-start-of-a-new-cold-war-that-russia-cant-win-33988Research project: Network governance and low carbon transitions in European cities (Nov 2014 - Oct 2017)Nathan JohnsonHow can European cities transition to a low carbon future? What are the governance challenges in creating environmentally sustainable cities? Can ideas about 'network governance' enhance adaption to climate change by improving interaction between citizens, businesses, associations and governments?2014-11-07T14:18:00Z2014-11-07T14:01:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2014/network-governance-low-carbon-transitions-european-cities.aspxResearch project: Do flexible institutions enhance democracy? A comparative analysis of public governance innovations in Brazil and the UK (Jul 2014 - Jul 2016)Nathan JohnsonThe purpose of this exploratory research is to bring complementary expertise from the UK and Brazil to the analysis of democratic innovations - the global search for new ways in which societal, economic and cultural problems can be resolved through the direct involvement of citizens, civil society organisations, and other parties.2014-11-07T14:18:00Z2014-11-07T14:01:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2014/do-flexible-institutions-enhance-democracy.aspxPodcast: Corporate Social Responsibility in Developing Countries LectureNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Ms. Donna Guest, Senior Advisor on Southeast Asia at Institute for Human Rights and Business2014-11-07T13:57:00Z2014-11-07T15:01:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/11/corporate-social-responsibility-in-developing-countries.aspxRecent PhD Success Highlights Strength of POLSIS Doctoral ResearchNathan JohnsonSixteen doctoral students gained a PhD in the past year in POLSIS.2014-11-03T14:38:00Z2014-11-03T14:30:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/11/phd-success.aspxBlog: Preaching to the choir: reflections on key leadership skills for local authority chief executives – part 3: courageNathan JohnsonWritten by Catherine Staite. Leadership is not a sprint – it's a marathon. You are in it for the long haul and that is why courage is so important. Maya Angelou argued that courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently and that is certainly evident in the role of chief executive. Not only do you need to keep yourself going through challenging times, you also need to be able to demonstrate courage to your staff and members. If you falter, so will they.2014-10-31T15:59:00Z2014-10-31T15:55:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/10/31/preaching-to-the-choir-reflections-on-key-leadership-skills-for-local-authority-chief-executives-part-3-courage/Jerusalem, Israeli settlements and why a third intifada could be about to kick offNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Asaf Siniver. Does this month's escalation in violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank mean that a third intifada – a Palestinian uprising against the Israel's occupation, following those of 1987 and 2000 – is imminent? The latest events in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict prove that the next round could kick off at any moment.2014-10-31T10:50:00Z2014-11-10T10:51:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/jerusalem-israeli-settlements.aspxBlog: Achieving better outcomes for the troubled family of local governmentNathan JohnsonWritten by Simon Parker. In this debate, Simon Parker (NLGN), Catherine Staite (INLOGOV) and Tony Bovaird (INLOGOV) agree that the current state of UK local government is unsustainable – but see different routes to rescuing a sustainable future.2014-10-30T17:01:00Z2014-10-30T17:00:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/10/29/achieving-better-outcomes-for-the-troubled-family-of-local-government/Podcast: Hobbes's Dilemma and the Liberal Quest for World OrderNathan JohnsonA joint POLSIS/ICCS distinguished lecture given by one of the world's leading experts on international relations. Chair: Dr Tim Haughton (POLSIS/CREES), Speaker: Robert O. Keohane (Princeton University), Discussant: Professor Nicholas Wheeler (ICCS, University of Birmingham).2014-10-30T16:24:00Z2014-10-30T16:21:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2014/10/hobbes-dilemma-liberal-quest-world-order.aspxIDD Guest seminar podcast: Researching change and continuity in rural Ethiopia: 20 villages over 20 years – the WIDE research projectNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Catherine Dom, Mokoro Ltd, WIDE Research Team.2014-10-28T15:11:00Z2014-10-28T15:10:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/10/ethiopia.aspxBlog: Preaching to the choir: reflections on key leadership skills for local authority chief executives – part 2: charmNathan JohnsonWritten by Catherine Staite. Charm is shorthand for a sophisticated set of skills which enable you to make new connections and solve old problems. Charm is about much more than being nice in a superficial way – otherwise known as 'smarm'. If you don't have real charm then just be gruff and honest. Everyone will understand. Smarm, on the other hand, will simply breed distrust.2014-10-28T14:35:00Z2014-10-28T14:20:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/10/28/preaching-to-the-choir-reflections-on-key-leadership-skills-for-local-authority-chief-executives-part-2-charm/Pro-Western bloc set for majority in elections that expose deep divisions in UkraineNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). Ukrainians have voted for a new parliament. The exit polls, in line with earlier predictions, indicate that the Petro Poroshenko Bloc – which also includes the UDAR party of Kiev's mayor, former boxing champion Vitali Klichko – came out on top (predicted to achieve around 23% of the vote), but will need partners to form a stable coalition that will give Poroshenko a majority in parliament.2014-10-27T16:01:00Z2014-10-27T15:34:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/pro-western-bloc-set-for-majority-in-elections-that-expose-deep-divisions-in-ukraine-33450Blog: Postcard from Tokyo: local government remorse, Japanese-styleNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. I've had the good fortune to spend the past week in Tokyo, as Japan commemorates the 50th anniversary of arguably the most geo-politically transformative Olympic Games, in the city that underwent a scarcely credible urban transformation in order to stage them.2014-10-27T11:00:00Z2014-10-27T10:47:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/10/27/postcard-from-tokyo-local-government-remorse-japanese-style/Assessing the State of the EUNathan JohnsonDr Tim Haughton participated in a panel in Brussels discussing the past, present and future of European integration.2014-10-24T13:12:00Z2014-10-24T13:02:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/10/assessing-the-state-of-the-eu.aspxDrones are here to stay, but the government must do more to ensure greater public acceptanceNathan JohnsonOn 16 October, the Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, announced that part of the UK Reaper drone fleet would be deployed in Iraq to support coalition efforts against the terror group ISIL. This week, he confirmed they would also be flying surveillance missions over Syria. These events mark the first operational use of UK Reapers outside Afghanistan and represent a significant and timely development in the UK government's stated policy towards 'drone warfare'.2014-10-24T10:43:00Z2014-10-24T10:35:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/10/drones-are-here-to-stay-23-10-14.aspxBlog: Preaching to the choir: reflections on key leadership skills for local authority chief executives – part 1: creativityNathan JohnsonWritten by Catherine Staite. I have called this blog series 'preaching to the choir' as it is dedicated to local authority chief executives and they already know a great deal about leadership. They wouldn't survive and thrive in their posts if they didn't.2014-10-24T10:06:00Z2014-10-24T09:51:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/10/24/preaching-to-the-choir-reflections-on-key-leadership-skills-for-local-authority-chief-executives-part-1-creativity/Japan's Shinzo Abe will struggle to recover from ministerial scandalNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Julie Gilson. In a country that has had nine leaders since 2000, Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe appeared to have found the recipe for longevity. But the resignation of two ministers from his government has left him in serious trouble.2014-10-23T10:46:00Z2014-11-10T10:47:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/japan-ministerial-scandal.aspxJapan's Shinzo Abe will struggle to recover from ministerial scandalNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Julie Gilson. In a country that has had nine leaders since 2000, Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe appeared to have found the recipe for longevity. But the resignation of two ministers from his government has left him in serious trouble.2014-10-22T15:31:00Z2014-10-22T15:16:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/japans-shinzo-abe-will-struggle-to-recover-from-ministerial-scandal-33272Ukraine steels itself for winter as Novorossiya forges aheadNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). The EU-Asia Summit in Milan, Italy, delivered little, if any, tangible progress to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. Relations between Russia and Ukraine's major European allies remain just a few degrees above a new Cold War-style ice age. And with only a preliminary gas deal achieved between Kiev and Moscow this may be quite literally true for Ukrainians as winter approaches.2014-10-20T10:24:00Z2014-10-20T10:34:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/ukraine-steels-itself-for-winter-as-novorossiya-forges-ahead-33151Albania-Serbia football drone farce shows Balkan nationalism is still a dangerous powder kegNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Gëzim Alpion. Few thought that Serbia's Euro 2016 qualifying fixture against Albania on October 14 2014 would be an easy match. But the depths to which it sank are shocking even to those familiar with the potency of anti-Albanian feeling among Serbia's nationalist factions.2014-10-16T15:41:00Z2014-10-20T10:35:00Zhttps://theconversation.com/albania-serbia-football-drone-farce-shows-balkan-nationalism-is-still-a-dangerous-powder-keg-33101ICCS Seminar Series 2014/15Nathan JohnsonICCS hosts a number of seminars throughout the year which focuses on a number of different topics. Listen to the latest podcasts from our recent events.2014-10-14T14:55:00Z2014-10-14T14:43:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/events/seminar-series/2014-15/index.aspxInternational Development Forum, Autumn 2014Nathan JohnsonThe International Development Forum is an initiative funded by the University of Birmingham Educational Enhancement Fund to provide an introduction to international development to students from across the University, at any level of study.2014-10-14T14:39:00Z2014-10-14T14:27:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/events/2014/international-development-forum/index.aspxPodcast: "The Responsibility to Protect" and the Unreasonable VetoNathan JohnsonThe roots of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) are to be found in the international community's attempts to navigate a route through UN Security Council (UNSC) inaction in the face of mass human rights atrocities. The likelihood of such inaction is exacerbated by the ability of UNSC Permanent members to veto actions which they oppose, but given the level of human suffering which characterises such crises, should this right of veto, unfettered by the UN Charter, be subject to some degree of constraint? Issues relating to this question are considered in 'The Responsibility to Protect and the "Unreasonable" Veto'.2014-10-14T14:22:00Z2014-10-14T14:09:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2014/10/the-responsibility-to-protect.aspxBirmingham Sociologist Invited to Keynote Lecture at the Ikon GalleryNathan JohnsonDr Will Leggett, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, has been invited to deliver a public lecture at the new Library of Birmingham as part of the Ikon Gallery's 'Those were the decades' 50th anniversary events.2014-10-10T14:58:00Z2014-10-10T14:41:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/10/wil-leggett-keynote-lecture-ikon.aspxIDD Guest seminar podcast: Hearing Local Voices in PeacebuildingNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Dr David Roberts, Loughborough University.2014-10-10T12:27:00Z2014-10-28T15:11:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/10/hearing-local-voices-peacebuilding.aspxChina-India border tension risks escalating into more intense conflictNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Tsering Topgyal. "Earlier this month the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, concluded a three-day trip to India. As he set off to meet Narendra Modi, Xi wrote in The Hindu that China and India "need to become co-operation partners."2014-10-08T10:43:00Z2014-11-10T10:44:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/china-india.aspxBlog: Can smart maps improve local government?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Walter T. de Vries. Local governments are increasingly making use of internet-based applications and social media to provide services and to interact with citizens. Are these applications however really helping local governments?2014-10-08T09:51:00Z2014-10-08T09:47:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/10/08/can-smart-maps-improve-local-government/Blog: Cinderella has been at the ball for more than a century and no one has noticed her!Nathan JohnsonWritten by Ian Briggs. Local government has struggled with the concept of localism for far longer than most of us might think. It has not just been the clarion call of localism from the Coalition Government since 2010 and the subsequence Localism Act that posed some pretty serious questions about the structure of our local democratic processes. The issue of connectivity between the citizen and the 'agent of the state' has been under academic scrutiny for a long time.2014-10-07T10:35:00Z2014-10-07T10:29:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/10/07/cinderella-has-been-at-the-ball-for-more-than-a-century-and-no-one-has-noticed-her/Blog: Buying local votes? Campaign spending effects in Belgian local electionsNathan JohnsonWritten by Gert-Jan Put, Bart Maddens and Jef Smulders. In democratic countries worldwide, elections are being organized on an increasingly larger scale. This makes it more challenging for political parties and candidates to communicate with voters and reach their target groups. Alternatively, they resort to mass media and costly electoral campaigns, for which parties and candidates are often prepared to spend exorbitant amounts of money.2014-10-06T14:15:00Z2014-10-06T14:04:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/10/06/buying-local-votes-campaign-spending-effects-in-belgian-local-elections/Britain's first air strikes in Iraq - is there a strategy?Nathan JohnsonOn 26 September, British parliament approved the Cameron government's request for authority to carry out air strikes inside Iraq on the Islamic State terror group. Four days later, two Tornado jets on an 'armed surveillance' mission dropped the first bombs, hitting a jihadist heavy-weapon position and an armed pick-up truck.2014-10-03T16:02:00Z2014-10-03T15:40:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/10/britains-air-strikes-in-iraq-02-10-14.aspxWhy Brooks Newmark is a twit, but not a knit-witNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. Two topics now compete for the opening paragraph in MP Brooks Newmark's political obituary. One is of course his hubris in thinking that a 26-year old woman – be she Tory or not – would be interested in photos of his genitalia. The other, though, are his thoughts, as the short-lived minister for civil society, about charities and knitting.2014-10-02T10:17:00Z2014-10-20T10:39:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/why-brooks-newmark-is-a-twit-but-not-a-knit-wit-32291CREES academic delivers talk at book launchNathan JohnsonDr Derek Averre of CREES spoke about Europe and the Ukraine crisis at a book launch at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (IFS) in Oslo.2014-10-02T10:17:00Z2014-10-02T10:15:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/10/crees-academic-delivers-talk-book-launch.aspxBlog: Local government: keepers of the moral compass?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Catherine Staite. Barry Quirk's excellent article in the Local Government Chronicle highlighted the often overlooked role of local government as the guardian of pubic ethics.2014-09-30T14:56:00Z2014-09-30T14:49:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/09/30/local-government-keepers-of-the-moral-compass/Research project: Evaluation of Community Organisers and Community First programmes (Nov 2012 - Feb 2015)Nathan JohnsonThe evaluation will assess the delivery and social impact of both programmes, providing continuous learning and relevant insights for programme development.2014-09-30T10:39:00Z2014-09-30T10:23:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2014/evaluation-community-organisers-community-first-programmes.aspxResearch project: Translation across borders: exploring the use, relevance and impact of academic research in the policy process (Jan 2014 - Mar 2015)Nathan JohnsonThis project seeks to explore and suggest ways to address the frustrations which attempts to translate research into policy can bring. A focus of concern for academics is the fidelity of translation to their research findings. For policy-makers, the focus is often the function of the translation for the demands they are seeking to address.2014-09-30T10:39:00Z2014-09-30T10:26:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2014/translation-across-borders.aspxBlog: Local government - more appreciated than it often thinksNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. Someone asked me recently if, in those opinion polls that regularly monitor these things, net satisfaction with the government's record was ever positive. In other words, are there ever nowadays more of us satisfied than dissatisfied with those who govern us, or have we become, on balance, a nation of malcontents, whoever we happen to have elected?2014-09-30T09:44:00Z2014-09-30T09:36:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/09/29/local-government-more-appreciated-than-it-often-thinks/China and India's border dispute rises to dangerous new heightsNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Tsering Topgyal. On September 19 the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, concluded a three-day trip to India. As he set off to meet Narendra Modi, Xi wrote in The Hindu that China and India "need to become co-operation partners." This does not explain why his soldiers entered Indian territory without authorisation on the first day of his visit.2014-09-29T09:20:00Z2014-10-20T10:36:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/china-and-indias-border-dispute-rises-to-dangerous-new-heights-32125EU pragmatism has rewarded Russia's brazen trade bullyingNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Kataryna Wolczuk and Rilka Dragneva-Lewers. Few bilateral agreements have ever had such turbulent history and implications as the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine.2014-09-29T09:05:00Z2014-10-20T10:38:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/eu-pragmatism-has-rewarded-russias-brazen-trade-bullying-32050IDD Guest Seminar Series 2014-15Nathan JohnsonThe International Development Department hosts a number of seminars throughout the autumn term which focuses on a number of different topics. The seminars are open to everyone. Listen to the latest podcasts from our recent events.2014-09-26T14:23:00Z2014-09-26T14:07:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/events/guest-seminar-series/index.aspxBlog: What skills does a 21st Century fire service need?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dave Cross. Over the past twenty years the fire service, like many other public sector agencies has undergone radical change. Whilst the public's expectation of the fire service as a response based fire and rescue service remains the same, the organisational expectations of fire fighters has increased markedly. To quote a senior Greater Manchester fire officer "The job of a fire fighter nowadays has changed from not just putting out fires… to almost being a semi social worker".2014-09-26T11:29:00Z2014-09-26T11:26:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/09/26/what-skills-does-a-21st-century-fire-service-need/Blog: Devo max - what it is and why it won't happenNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. Devo Max – it sounds like a 99% efficient toilet cleaner, or a dodgy West Country car dealer, but either way I visualise its initials in upper case. And that's its problem. It's undoubtedly the 'must use' expression of the month. It's not complicated, like 'full fiscal autonomy' or the Barnett formula, so anyone feels able to drop it authoritatively into even casual conversation. And everyone has their own idea of what it is.2014-09-25T15:31:00Z2014-09-25T15:15:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/09/25/devo-max-what-it-is-and-why-it-wont-happen/Things will never be the same again: reflections on the Scottish referendumNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Colin Thain. Whatever the outcome of today's referendum of 3.5 million voters in Scotland, Friday 19 September 2014 will be an epoch-making day in the politics of these islands. For once, the hyperbole is justified.2014-09-18T17:07:00Z2014-09-18T16:55:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/09/reflections-on-the-Scottish-referendum-18-09-14.aspxBan pre-election opinion polls at your perilNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. I really thought we might make it. We'd got past the publication of YouGov's potentially constitution-changing poll showing a minuscule lead for the Yes campaign without anyone grabbing for an easy headline by calling for opinion polls to be banned in the run-up to elections and referendums.2014-09-18T11:36:00Z2014-10-20T10:39:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/ban-pre-election-opinion-polls-at-your-peril-31762Scotland vote appears to be defying usual referendum swingNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. It seems Scottish voters are warming to the whole independence idea, then – bucking the trend that the experts have been telling us for months they're almost bound to follow.2014-09-15T15:04:00Z2014-10-20T10:39:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/scotland-vote-appears-to-be-defying-usual-referendum-swing-31490Podcast: The Security Impact of Drone WarfareNathan JohnsonFrom counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan, to Amazon delivery services, the use (and ownership) of drone technology has major implications for domestic and international security. But what are the legal and ethical implications of this technology, and can drones ever be fully autonomous? Join leading experts for a topical and timely debate on the civilian and military use of drones.2014-09-11T16:49:00Z2014-09-18T10:38:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2014/09/security-impact-of-drone-warfare.aspxPOLSIS Seminar Series 2014-15Nathan JohnsonPOLSIS hosts a number of seminars throughout the year which focuses on a number of different topics. Listen to the latest podcasts from our recent events.2014-09-10T11:48:00Z2014-09-10T11:32:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/events/seminar-series/2014-15/index.aspxRecent publications and conference presentations demonstrate the strength of research in POLSISNathan JohnsonSeveral publications and conference presentations by academics in the Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) demonstrate the quality and vibrancy of research in the department2014-09-09T16:27:00Z2014-09-09T16:26:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/09/publications-conference-presentations.aspxBRICS keep supporting Russia in bid to rebalance world powerNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Marco Vieira. While Western nations beef up economic sanctions and Nato discusses what stance to take toward Russia, the BRICS are maintaining tacit support for Moscow despite the Ukraine crisis.2014-09-09T12:49:00Z2014-10-20T10:36:00Zhttps://theconversation.com/brics-keep-supporting-russia-in-bid-to-rebalance-world-power-31122Blog: In case you missed it: the Local Government (Independence) BillNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. It was partly the timing. In combination, the suddenly increased likelihood of both Scottish independence and a Coalition break-up were bound to eclipse last Friday's scheduled Second Reading of the Local Government (Independence) Bill. It was unfortunate, though. After all, local government independence would be a pretty big deal too, wouldn't it?2014-09-09T12:31:00Z2014-09-09T12:26:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/09/09/in-case-you-missed-it-the-local-government-independence-bill/Why 'fools rush in' is Obama's watchword in Iraq and SyriaNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Adam Quinn. US president Barack Obama has yet to work out exactly what America's strategy is in confronting Islamic State (IS), and has been foolish enough to say so in public. Cue the foreseeable torrent of point-scoring from opponents.2014-09-05T10:43:00Z2014-10-20T10:35:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/why-fools-rush-in-is-obamas-watchword-in-iraq-and-syria-31267NATO Must Look Forward to the PastNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Mark Webber and Heidi Reisinger (Senior Analyst at the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy). NATO's intent to follow America's lead and pivot towards Asia is illogical and unrealistic. The Ukraine crisis has served to bang their heads together and remind them that although the connection to the US is crucial, NATO business is in Europe.2014-09-03T10:40:00Z2014-09-03T10:36:00Zhttps://ip-journal.dgap.org/en/ip-journal/topics/nato-must-look-forward-pastForgotten South Sudan tangled in factionalism and failed politicsNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Jonathan Fisher. Largely knocked out of the news by the crises in Ukraine, Iraq, Syria and Gaza (to name a few), a civil war has nonetheless devastated South Sudan since December 2013. It has left thousands dead, and more than a million have been internally displaced or forced into refugee camps.2014-09-03T10:25:00Z2014-10-20T10:51:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/forgotten-south-sudan-tangled-in-factionalism-and-failed-politics-30994Blog: Councils should have the power NOT to tax supermarketsNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. There's no shortage of reasons to dislike supermarkets generally and Tesco in particular – their flimsy carrier bags, their irritating BOGOFs and BOGOHOs (Buy One, Get One Half Off), their unpoliced disabled parking bays, their Everyday Value instant coffee granules. Then there are all the economic, environmental and social reasons – the ones understandably more emphasised in Derby City Council's recent proposal that local authorities be given the power to introduce a levy of 8.5% of rateable value on large retail outlets: a supermarket or Tesco tax, as it was instantly labelled by the media.2014-09-01T17:05:00Z2014-09-03T11:06:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/09/01/councils-should-have-the-power-not-to-tax-supermarkets/Douglas Carswell by-election is a rare and honourable eventNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. The least surprising part of Douglas Carswell's defection to UKIP was surely his decision to resign his Clacton seat and seek re-election in a by-election.2014-08-29T16:30:00Z2014-10-20T10:40:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/douglas-carswell-by-election-is-a-rare-and-honourable-event-31060Nationalism sparks a summer of deadly violence in the CaucasusNathan JohnsonWritten by Kevork Oskanian. The world has been brutally reminded of the unresolved conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave in the South Caucasus which Armenia and Azerbaijan have locked horns over for more than 25 years. While the situation is clearly at a low ebb, the facts of what is happening are far from clear.2014-08-28T16:30:00Z2014-10-20T10:38:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/nationalism-sparks-a-summer-of-deadly-violence-in-the-caucasus-30933If lauding Thatcher was cause to recall parliament, why not Iraq?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. MPs from all parties have called in recent weeks for parliament to be reconvened to enable them to debate the ongoing crisis in Iraq. They have met with unbending opposition. But David Cameron's decision to bring everyone back last year to eulogise Margaret Thatcher might make it difficult for him to resist indefinitely.2014-08-21T16:30:00Z2014-10-20T10:40:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/if-lauding-thatcher-was-cause-to-recall-parliament-why-not-iraq-30697Creating Change, Expanding Opportunity - IDD Annual Report 2013-14Nathan JohnsonWelcome to a special anniversary Annual Report. Browse an overview of IDD's recent research, teaching, consultancy and publications.2014-08-21T15:14:00Z2014-08-21T15:05:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/idd/annual-report/2013-14.pdfInside Donetsk, a city at war, while the jaw-jaw over Ukraine continuesNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University) and Professor Stefan Wolff. The past few days have seen another round of the seemingly endless cycle of escalation and de-escalation that has characterised the crisis in Ukraine for several months.2014-08-19T11:00:00Z2014-10-20T10:37:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/inside-donetsk-a-city-at-war-while-the-jaw-jaw-over-ukraine-continues-30486Sino-Indian Relations in the 21st Century: Economic and Security Implications and ResponsesNathan JohnsonThis conference hosted by the University of Birmingham took place on Thursday 10 July 2014. The conference brought together leading scholars from China, India and the UK to address the following questions: what are the key drivers of Sino-Indian relations, particularly their economic and security relations? What are the cooperative and competitive elements in their economic and security strategies towards their Asian neighbours and beyond? What kind of regional and extra-regional responses are provoked by the increasing capabilities and expanding ambitions and activities of these rising powers?2014-08-18T16:18:00Z2014-10-14T16:13:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/08/sino-indian-relations-21st-century.aspxResearch video: Dr Stephen Jeffares - #Hashtag PoliticsNathan JohnsonDr Stephen Jeffares talks about his current research on Hashtag Politics.2014-08-18T12:08:00Z2014-08-18T12:09:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2014/02/stephen-jeffares-hashtag-politics.aspxContemporary Violence: Postmodern War in Kosovo and Chechnya Paperback version of book releasedNathan JohnsonThe monograph by Cerwyn Moore, Contemporary Violence: Postmodern War in Kosovo and Chechnya (Manchester: MUP, 2014), is released in paperback.2014-08-18T11:50:00Z2014-08-18T11:28:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/08/contemporary-violence-postmodern-war-kosovo-chechnya.aspxIs Boris Johnson a sop to the Tories' UKIP tendency?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Peter Kerr. There is a certain section of the Conservative Party – and not necessarily a minority – which has a penchant for self-destruction. This is the same section which takes its leadership cues from Nigel Farage rather than David Cameron; that section which has repeatedly frustrated the latter's attempts to modernise the party, while steadfastly drawing the leadership back towards the types of agenda, on Europe and immigration and so on, which proved so electorally damaging for the party throughout the noughties.2014-08-11T09:53:00Z2014-10-20T10:37:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/is-boris-johnson-a-sop-to-the-tories-ukip-tendency-30279The secret economic slowdown behind Putin's strategy for RussiaNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Richard Connolly. If you want to understand the sometimes confounding moves played by Russian premier Vladimir Putin, then you could do worse than look at the accounts. On the face of it the country has seen 14 years of growth in the past 15, but that hides a persistent slowdown in the rate of growth. And although sanctions imposed over Ukraine have grabbed the headlines, the truth is that economic weakness in Russia is homegrown.2014-08-11T09:35:00Z2014-10-20T10:38:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/the-secret-economic-slowdown-behind-putins-strategy-for-russia-30183Self-styled people's governor of Donetsk tells us: these areas have always been RussianNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University) and Professor Stefan Wolff. There are two competing and irreconcilable narratives about the crisis in eastern Ukraine that divide public opinion and media coverage in the region and the country – as much as they divide Russia and the West.2014-08-07T13:24:00Z2014-10-20T10:37:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/self-styled-peoples-governor-of-donetsk-tells-us-these-areas-have-always-been-russian-29708Podcast: ASPA Roundtable on US Political ScienceNathan JohnsonRoundtable with Professor Steven R. Smith, the American Political Science Association (APSA) Executive Director and a leading scholar on the non-profit sector, 29 July 2014, Chaired by Professor Chris Skelcher, INLOGOV, University of Birmingham.2014-08-01T15:22:00Z2014-08-01T15:53:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2014/07/aspa-roundtable.aspxINLOGOV Summer Symposium 2014Nathan JohnsonThis summer symposium brought together distinguished UK and international academics and leaders in the field of local government to share new ideas, creativity, evidence and experience on some of the major challenges for local government.2014-07-31T11:04:00Z2014-07-31T13:32:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2014/07/summer-symposium.aspxLack of trust and tit-for-tat escalation brings Ukraine to the brink of all-out war with RussiaNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). The renewed escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, following the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, shows no sign of abating. Fighting in the east has continued both in and around the rebel stronghold of Donetsk and at the Russian-Ukrainian border where, according to reports, Russia has now started shelling Ukrainian military positions.2014-07-29T10:41:00Z2014-08-06T10:42:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/ukraine-russia-conflict.aspxPodcast: Israel is the only state taking the drone threat seriously – Professor David DunnNathan JohnsonProfessor David Dunn talks to The Bureau of Invesigative Journalism on a recent podcast saying that the biggest threat of drone technology is its potential use by terrorists and other non-state actors with "malign intent".2014-07-28T10:39:00Z2014-07-28T16:00:00Zhttp://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2014/07/17/podcast-israel-is-the-only-state-taking-the-drone-threat-seriously-professor-david-dunn/The Conversation: Lack of trust and tit-for-tat escalation brings Ukraine to the brink of all-out war with RussiaNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). The renewed escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, following the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, shows no sign of abating. Fighting in the east has continued both in and around the rebel stronghold of Donetsk and at the Russian-Ukrainian border where, according to reports, Russia has now started shelling Ukrainian military positions.2014-07-28T10:23:00Z2014-07-28T10:14:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/lack-of-trust-and-tit-for-tat-escalation-brings-ukraine-to-the-brink-of-all-out-war-with-russia-29707The Conversation: How harsher sanctions could help Putin turn Russia back into the Soviet UnionNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Richard Connolly. The downing of flight MH17 has caused attention to shift once again to the prospect of even harsher penalties being imposed upon Russia by Western countries. Up to this point, sanctions have been limited to individuals within or close to Russia's ruling elite, as well as a few associated companies.2014-07-24T09:26:00Z2014-07-24T09:26:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/how-harsher-sanctions-could-help-putin-turn-russia-back-into-the-soviet-union-29615IGS podcast: Ethics and the HolocaustNathan JohnsonSpeakers: Professor Marc Silberman, University of Wisconsin - Madison "The Ethics of Teaching Holocaust Violence". Justin Court, University of Wisconsin – Madison "The Ethics of Viewing Holocaust Violence".2014-07-23T12:41:00Z2014-07-23T12:34:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/07/ethics-holocaust.aspxIGS podcast: From Wars of Liberation to Star Wars: Friedrich Schiller's Pop Culture LegacyNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Professor Jeffrey L. High (California State University Long Beach), "From Wars of Liberation to Star Wars: Friedrich Schiller's Pop Culture Legacy"2014-07-23T12:41:00Z2014-07-23T12:36:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/07/from-wars-liberation-to-star-wars.aspxFlight MH17 and Russia's 'little green men'Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Kataryna Wolczuk. "The shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 in Eastern Ukraine on 17 July has placed the conflict which has engulfed that part of Ukraine into an entirely new context. It has transformed the event from a localised, regional rebellion into a crisis that brings Russia's role into the open, writes Kataryna Wolczuk, of the Centre for Russian and European Studies."2014-07-23T08:45:00Z2014-07-23T08:38:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/russia-mh17.aspxThe Conversation: As Russia votes with Security Council, could MH17 be providing a wake-up call?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. The unanimous vote in the UN Security Council on the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over rebel-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine is a welcome step. The resolution, drafted by Australia which lost 37 people in the tragedy, condemns the downing of the aircraft and calls for all states to co-operate with the investigation and demands that armed groups allow open access to the crash site.2014-07-23T08:45:00Z2014-07-23T08:44:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/as-russia-votes-with-security-council-could-mh17-be-providing-a-wake-up-call-29522New book series: Global Political Economies of Gender and SexualityNathan JohnsonDr Nicola Smith, Senior Lecturer in POLSIS, has recently signed a book series. The book series is called 'Global Political Economies of Gender and Sexuality', is being published by Rowman & Littlefield International and is edited by Nicola Smith, Adrienne Roberts (University of Manchester) and Juanita Elias (University of Birmingham). The series has just started and they will have a big launch once the first books have been commissioned.2014-07-21T16:00:00Z2014-07-21T15:41:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/03/global-political-economies-gender-sexuality.aspxBlog: From repression to co-production with citizens: Why we need behaviour change in healthcareNathan JohnsonWritten by Jörgen Tholstrup. What's the mission of health care? I've been working as a physician and gastroenterologist both in Denmark and Sweden for more than 30 years. Over time, I've become more and more puzzled about our healthcare system and how otherwise responsible human beings can tolerate the way that common behaviourial rules are suspended when you access healthcare.2014-07-21T09:53:00Z2014-07-21T09:52:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/07/21/from-repression-to-co-production/The Conversation: How far were Russia's 'little green men' involved in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Kataryna Wolczuk. The shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 in Eastern Ukraine on 17th June has placed the conflict which has engulfed that part of Ukraine into an entirely new context. It has transformed the event from a localised, regional rebellion into a crisis that brings Russia's role into the open.2014-07-21T09:33:00Z2014-07-21T09:17:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/how-far-were-russias-little-green-men-involved-in-the-downing-of-malaysia-airlines-flight-mh17-29422The Israeli-Palestinian crisis: A distressing déjà vuNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Asaf Siniver. The most depressing aspect of the current round of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, beyond the death toll and the human suffering, is the sheer predictability of this crisis. As far as contemporary armed conflicts go, few could match the intensity, inevitability and perpetuity of the ongoing struggle between the militant group Hamas and the Israeli government.2014-07-17T17:02:00Z2014-07-17T16:56:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/07/israeli-palestinian-crisis.aspxThe Conversation: Thaw in UK-Iran relations will depend on Rouhani's actions, not his words, say MPsNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Adam Quinn. The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee's new report on policy towards Iran contains no surprises – startling new departures aren't in the nature of such documents – but does help crystallise a couple of important features of the present posture of the Western coalition's posture towards Iran.2014-07-17T10:22:00Z2014-07-17T10:11:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/thaw-in-uk-iran-relations-will-depend-on-rouhanis-actions-not-his-words-say-mps-29111The Conversation: The BRICS plan for a new world order begins with a bankNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Marco Vieira. Could history one day judge the latest BRICS summit as significant as the Bretton Woods conference of 1944? That is the hope of leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as they meet in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil to establish a new institutional architecture to counter (or maybe complement) the Western-controlled finacial system.2014-07-17T10:22:00Z2014-07-17T10:16:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/the-brics-plan-for-a-new-world-order-begins-with-a-bank-29251Blog: A view from Barnet's Chris Naylor: how the class of 2014 are responding to perma-austerityNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Naylor. Two weeks ago I gave the lunchtime pep talk to a dozen young hopeful students each vying for a coveted place on Barnet's graduate programme. Furiously clever, ambitious for Barnet and public services more generally – I didn't envy those with the task of making a final selection. Like the alumni who have come through the Council's programme before them, many of whom a decade on, as senior managers, continue to make a profound contribution to the success of the borough, the Class of '14 will truly be the 21st Century Public Servants.2014-07-15T16:12:00Z2014-07-15T16:02:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/07/15/a-view-from-barnets-chris-naylor-how-the-class-of-2014-are-responding-to-perma-austerity/Blog: How can the 21st century public servant survive an era of perma-austerity?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Catherine Mangan. We are launching the first theme from our 21st Century Public Servant project – the need to survive a seemingly unending period of austerity – to coincide with the Local Government Association conference, where austerity is a central theme. Our research with local government and other public service delivery organisations found that 'perma-austerity' is both inhibiting and catalysing change, as organisations struggle to balance short-term cost-cutting and redundancies with a strategic vision for change.2014-07-14T09:35:00Z2014-07-14T09:30:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/07/09/how-can-the-21st-century-public-servant-survive-an-era-of-perma-austerity/Blog: 21st century public servant: the discussion phaseNathan JohnsonWritten by Catherine Needham. This post is based on a provocation which I posed at INLOGOV's recent Summer Symposium. It is an attempt to move on the conversation about engagement between local government, other public institutions, citizens and communities.2014-07-08T16:06:00Z2014-07-08T15:46:00Zhttp://inlogov.com/2014/07/08/21st-century-public-servant-the-discussion-phase/INLOGOV briefing paper: What happened to the NOC councils after May 2014?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game, Honorary Senior Lecturer at INLOGOV. Most of the results – and effectively the outcomes – of May's local elections were in the media the following day. For a fifth of councils, though – the black holes in this Briefing Paper's cover map – while the results, in terms of seat numbers, were available, the all-important outcomes – who will actually run the authority – weren't, often for weeks. The Briefing Paper's main purpose is to fill in those black holes, detailing who's now running what and how.2014-07-04T14:05:00Z2014-07-08T10:14:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/2014/2014-local-election-results.pdfA rigorous review of the role and impact of private schools in developing countriesNathan JohnsonA new review analyses recent evidence on the role and impact of private schools on education for children in developing countries, focusing on the delivery of education for the poor.2014-07-04T14:05:00Z2014-07-04T13:58:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/07/private-schools-developing-countries.aspxBlog: What happened to the NOC councils after the May elections: a moan and a puffNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. 'Five Days in May': the time it took in 1940 for Churchill to manoeuvre the War Cabinet into a five-year World War, in 2010 to form Britain's first post-war peacetime coalition – and in 2014 for Tower Hamlets LBC to announce its local election results. OK, I've exaggerated – it was actually 119 hours after the polls closed, so only 4.96 days, but still not good, even discounting the malpractice allegations.2014-06-30T14:17:00Z2014-06-30T14:04:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/30/what-happened-to-the-noc-councils-after-the-may-elections-a-moan-and-a-puf/INLOGOV briefing paper: Reflections on 'Bridging the gap'Nathan JohnsonWritten by Daniel Goodwin, June 2014. The Inlogov Symposium, Bridging the Gap, was designed to encourage the sharing of new ideas,creativity, evidence and experience on some of the key challenges for local government. This post expands on an earlier blog piece, reflects on the discussions and suggests points and questions for the future.2014-06-26T11:00:00Z2014-06-26T12:24:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/2014/reflections-on-bridging-the-gap.pdfBlog: Strengthening democracy and participation: routes to re-connection and engagement - a provocationNathan JohnsonWritten by Catherine Durose. This post is based on a provocation which I posed at INLOGOV's recent Summer Symposium. It is an attempt to move on the conversation about engagement between local government, other public institutions, citizens and communities.2014-06-20T14:30:00Z2014-06-20T14:15:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/strengthening-democracy-and-participation-routes-to-re-connection-and-engagement-a-provocation/Blog: Re-valuing The PublicNathan JohnsonWritten by Teresa L. Córdova. When we are on the ground getting the policies implemented, or perhaps even making the policies, we focus on doing what we can get done. One of our first questions is, "what are the constraints, the limits of what is possible (or probable), given current fiscal conditions, regulatory structures, or political dynamics."2014-06-20T11:21:00Z2014-06-20T11:19:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/re-valuing-the-public/Podcast: Challenges to emerging and established powers: Brazil and the United Kingdom in the contemporary global orderNathan JohnsonThis workshop organised by Dr Marco Vieira and Dr Jonathan Grix (30-31 May 2014) and hosted by the University of Birmingham aimed to critically examine the prospects of either cooperation or competition between Brazil and the United Kingdom in several dimensions of contemporary global order.2014-06-20T09:40:00Z2014-11-28T09:57:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/brazil-united-kingdom-contemporary-global-order.aspx3-year PhD Studentships available in the ICCSNathan JohnsonThe Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) was recently awarded a major grant to develop a new research stream in social neuroscience and international security, building on its vibrant research culture in the fields of trust and cooperation. As part of this project, the ICCS is seeking to appoint a series of new posts, including two new PhD studentships in the areas of Cybersecurity and Social Neuroscience and Security.2014-06-19T17:41:00Z2014-06-20T10:34:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/06/iccs-funded-phd-studentship.aspxResearch profile: Dr Huw MacartneyNathan JohnsonDr Huw Macartney is a political economist whose work is broadly concerned with the politics of banking and financial services. Huw's current research focuses on two big themes: UK and European banking reform following the global financial crisis; and depoliticisation and its relationship to the Eurozone debt crisis.2014-06-19T12:45:00Z2014-06-19T12:43:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/research-video-huw-macartney.aspxResearch profile: Professor Nicholas J. WheelerNathan JohnsonProfessor Nicholas J. Wheeler is Professor of International Relations and Director of the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation, and Security at the University of Birmingham.2014-06-19T12:30:00Z2014-06-19T12:43:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/research-video-nicholas-wheeler.aspxVideo: Dr Christalla Yakinthou at TEDxUniversityofBirminghamNathan JohnsonDr Christalla Yakinthou, Birmingham Fellow in the POLSIS gave a talk on "Reaching out to enemy communities after conflict" at the recent TEDx University of Birmingham based around the theme of Throwing Caution to the Wind -- or in other words, risk taking.2014-06-19T12:26:00Z2014-06-19T13:09:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/christalla-yakinthou-tedx-uob.aspxResearch profile: Dr Christalla YakinthouNathan JohnsonDr Christalla Yakinthou is a political scientist specialising in conflict transformation in deeply divided and post-war countries. She has specific expertise in transitional justice, conflict within societies, and constitutional design.2014-06-19T11:57:00Z2014-06-19T12:44:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/research-video-christalla-yakinthou.aspxResearch profile: Professor Stefan WolffNathan JohnsonA political scientist by background, Professor Stefan Wolff specialises in the management of contemporary security challenges, especially in the prevention and settlement of ethnic conflicts and civil wars and in post-conflict state-building in deeply divided and war-torn societies.2014-06-19T11:38:00Z2014-06-19T12:42:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/research-video-stefan-wolff.aspxResearch profile: Professor Paul JacksonNathan JohnsonPaul Jackson is a political economist working predominantly on conflict and post-conflict reconstruction. A core area of interest is decentralisation and governance and it was his extensive experience in Sierra Leone immediately following the war that led him into the area of conflict analysis and security sector reform.2014-06-19T11:37:00Z2014-06-19T12:41:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/06/research-video-paul-jackson.aspxPOLSIS Academic Researches European Elections in Central and Eastern EuropeNathan JohnsonTim Haughton undertook a research trip during the recent European elections visiting party offices, interviewing politicians and activists and collected campaign material in Central and Eastern Europe.2014-06-18T12:24:00Z2014-06-18T12:16:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/tim-haughton-european-elections.aspxAnnual CREES Conference Demonstrates the Strength of CREES ExpertiseNathan JohnsonStaff, students and alumni of CREES plus some specially invited guests gathered at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park for the annual conference of the Centre for Russian and East European Studies (CREES) in June 2014.2014-06-18T12:06:00Z2014-10-14T16:14:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/06/annual-conference.aspxThe Conversation: Bush's folly has left Obama out of options as ISIS surges in IraqNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Adam Quinn. Since 2003 (and, really, for years before that) Iraq has become, with only the most fleeting exceptions, a source of nothing but the most exquisitely awful sort of news. But even by its own standards, the events of the past 72 hours have surely exceeded the expectations of even connoisseurs of tactical disaster.2014-06-16T09:13:00Z2014-06-17T09:13:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/bushs-folly-has-left-obama-out-of-options-as-isis-surges-in-iraq-27949Blog: Building communities to bridge the gapNathan JohnsonWritten by Daniel Goodwin. England is around halfway through significant reductions in public expenditure and heading for a 'new normal' at much lower levels, whilst seeing demographic and other pressures rise. Local Government is currently projected to see a £10.5bn funding drop between 2010and 2020.2014-06-13T11:24:00Z2014-06-20T11:25:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/12/building-communities-to-bridge-the-gap/Blog: Democracy in The Circle: a route to reconnection and engagement?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Frank Hendriks. One of the theme's at INLOGOV's 2014 summer symposium is "Strengthening democracy and participation: routes to re-connection and engagement." One of the possible routes is tellingly sketched in Dave Eggers's recent novel The Circle (2013).2014-06-13T11:04:00Z2014-06-13T10:58:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/13/democracy-in-the-circle/Blog: Towards a people-centred language of demand managementNathan JohnsonWritten by Gavin Jones. I'm regularly asked to make presentations to groups of people (the last one being to 22 Deputy Lord Lieutenants!) to set out the issues and opportunities facing local government in the light of increasingly painful budget cuts. Of the pictorial slides I use to tell the story, the one guaranteed to have the greatest impact and make people hold their heads in their hands and mutter depressing words of despair is my 'motivational' slide that alarmingly shows demand outstripping resources at a frightening pace – often known as the '' or 'Map of Misery'.2014-06-11T09:01:00Z2014-06-20T11:20:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/06/11/people-centred-demand-management/DLP consolidates its partnership with La Trobe UniversityNathan JohnsonDLP consolidates its partnership with La Trobe University, Australia, this week. On 13 June, DLP's directors, Dr Heather Marquette and Dr David Hudson, will meet with members of La Trobe's Institute for Human Security and Social Change to share research findings and plan future collaboration.2014-06-11T08:46:00Z2014-06-11T08:41:00Zhttp://dlprog.org/news/dlp-consolidates-its-partnership-with-la-trobe-university.phpThe Conversation: Watered-down recall bill proves MPs just don't get itNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. "Meaningless", "a stitch-up", "a breathtakingly cynical attempt to convey an impression of democratic reform" – this was how Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith reacted to his own government's announcement in the Queen's Speech that ministers would, after all, be introducing a recall of MPs Bill before the 2015 election.2014-06-10T10:22:00Z2014-06-13T10:22:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/watered-down-recall-bill-proves-mps-just-dont-get-it-27732Birmingham academic injects new life in to civil society in AlbaniaNathan JohnsonSignificant improvements to the economy of the Balkans region can be made if the Albanian government invests in a new €350 million road, argues an academic from the University of Birmingham. Dr Gëzim Alpion, Lecturer in Sociology, has instigated a petition for state leaders to meet their election promises and construct a highway linking Tirana with Dibra, one of the most impoverished regions in Albania.2014-06-06T16:37:00Z2014-06-06T16:25:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2014/06/birmingham-academic-injects-new-life-in-to-civil-society-in-Albania.aspxSaving Humans blog: Why transitional justice proponents say the field is important: The risk of leaving things as they areNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Christalla Yakinthou. Continuing on from yesterday, generally, regardless of the focus, TJ presupposes that there is a significant risk in leaving things the way they are, after conflict.2014-06-06T16:13:00Z2014-06-10T09:13:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/06/06/why-transitional-justice-proponents-say-the-field-is-important-the-risk-of-leaving-things-as-they-are/Podcast: The terrible, horrible, no good, very bad European elections editionNathan JohnsonThe Politics @ Birmingham Podcast: Episode 04. This episode, we talk about the European elections of 22-25 May, which saw record highs for Eurosceptic and populist parties in several countries, including UKIP in the United Kingdom and the National Front in France. We discuss the reasons for this result, the extent to which it represents a Europe-wide backlash against Brussels, and its consequences for European politics.2014-06-06T16:02:00Z2014-06-06T15:47:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/06/european-elections-podcast-04.aspxSaving Humans blog: Confronting legacies of violence after conflict: What is Transitional Justice?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Christalla Yakinthou. Transitional justice (TJ) is essentially a field that grew around a single question: how do you address the legacy of conflict-related violence and widespread human rights abuses? The first time that we as an international community really had to think about how to address the mess of war and the impact of genocide and what consequently became known as crimes against humanity was of course at the Nuremburg Trials in relation to the holocaust in the wake of World War Two.2014-06-05T11:35:00Z2014-06-06T11:36:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/06/05/confronting-legacies-of-violence-after-conflict-what-is-transitional-justice/Saving Humans blog: Consultation, Respect, and Inclusivity: DIY Democracy in TurkeyNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Christalla Yakinthou. Last week marked the first-year anniversary of the Gezi Park protests in Turkey. The following piece reflects on the protests and their meaning.2014-06-04T11:56:00Z2014-06-04T11:46:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/06/04/consultation-respect-and-inclusivity-diy-democracy-in-turkey/Saving Humans blog: The concept and realities of post-revolution reform in TunisiaNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Christalla Yakinthou. Tunisian society has been engaging with both the concept and realities of post-revolution reform for the last three years. As last week's attack at the Tunisian minister of interior's house shows, the process has been hard going.2014-06-03T16:43:00Z2014-06-04T11:43:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/06/03/the-concept-and-realities-of-post-revolution-reform-in-tunisia/INLOGOV briefing paper: Social Value Survey ReportNathan JohnsonThis report outlines the findings of a joint survey (carried out between August to mid October 2013) by the Society of Procurement Officers (SOPO), the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO), the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) and the Institute of Local Government Studies at the University of Birmingham on the impact of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012.2014-06-02T16:10:00Z2014-06-05T16:10:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/2014/social-value-survey-report.pdfBlog: Depoliticisation and the Father's Clause in Parliamentary debatesNathan JohnsonDr Stephen Bates, Dr Laura Jenkins and Fran Amery, use work on in vitro fertilisation to think through depoliticisation. Our article argues that (de)politicisation may occur outside of formal governmental arenas and should not be regarded simply as a form of statecraft. Specifically, we explore in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and the parliamentary debates surrounding the addition and eventual removal of the Father's Clause of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Acts.2014-05-29T10:11:00Z2014-06-03T09:53:00Zhttp://polsis.org/2014/05/28/depoliticisation-and-the-fathers-clause-in-parliamentary-debates/The Conversation: Both Labour and the Tories are pursuing a cynical 15% strategyNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. The "35% strategy" – the idea that a party could win the 2015 general election on 35% of the vote – entered political discourse last year, generally as a Conservative taunt directed at Labour. The 35% comprised Labour's supposed "core vote": the 29% it managed in 2010 and brought it 258 or nearly 40% of Commons seats – plus a guesstimated 6% for Lib Dem defectors.2014-05-29T09:44:00Z2014-06-03T09:45:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/both-labour-and-the-tories-are-pursuing-a-cynical-15-strategy-27409The Conversation: NATO must take responsibility for spiralling violence in LibyaNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Paul Jackson. Libya has drifted out of our news recently, swamped and obscured by other conflicts. But the repercussions of the NATO intervention, and the subsequent failure of any credible central government to control the powerful militias, have led to a series of increasingly serious incidents.2014-05-28T09:50:00Z2014-06-03T09:50:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/nato-must-take-responsibility-for-spiralling-violence-in-libya-27050Blog: Building communities to bridge the gapNathan JohnsonWritten by Daniel Goodwin. England around halfway through significant reductions in public expenditure and heading for a 'new normal' at much lower levels, whilst seeing demographic and other pressures rise. Local Government is currently projected to see a £10.5bn funding drop between 2010 and 2020. Pressures on services are projected to rise by around £6bn, resulting in a £16.5bn total gap, under-resourcing services by around 30%. This average masks a wide variation – the LGA predicts that some of the poorest areas are projected only to be around 55% funded by 2020, whilst some shire districts will be 100% funded.2014-05-27T12:35:00Z2014-05-27T12:30:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/building-communities-to-bridge-the-gap/Saving Humans blog: 'Face-to-Face Encounters of the Diplomatic Kind'Nathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler. ). In my final blog today, I want to explore the proposition that I am developing at length in my new book that face-to-face encounters between leaders and top-level diplomats hold out the possibility of building trust across the enemy divide.2014-05-27T08:51:00Z2014-05-27T08:51:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/05/23/face-to-face-encounters-of-the-diplomatic-kind/Blog: The Politics of Broken Relationships? Croatia on the Eve of the European Parliament ElectionsNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Kevin Deegan-Krause and Dr Tim Haughton. A short walk from the Croatian parliament is the Museum of Broken Relationships. Zagreb's quirkiest museum displays countless artefacts donated by couples from around the world symbolizing the end of their love. The results of Sunday's elections to the European Parliament may make the long-standing political parties in Croatia and their voters suitable for exhibition.2014-05-27T08:40:00Z2014-05-27T08:53:00Zhttp://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-politics-of-broken-relationships_24.htmlThe Conversation: 'Chocolate King' Poroshenko wins Ukraine presidency but violence continuesNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). With the outright victory of Petro Poroshenko in Ukraine's presidential elections on May 25 now confirmed, hopes are running high for a new beginning that will deliver a swift way out of a protracted crisis.2014-05-26T11:45:00Z2014-05-27T11:45:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/chocolate-king-poroshenko-wins-ukraine-presidency-but-violence-continues-27203The Conversation: Whoever wins Ukraine election faces an uncertain mandate and no easy path to peaceNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). The presidential elections in Ukraine on May 25 were meant to offer the country the beginning of a way out of a protracted crisis. Some of the signs were quite positive. Presidential candidates were stressing the need for unity and dialogue. Ukraine's richest man, Rinat Akhmetov, a powerful tycoon based in eastern Ukraine, took a strong public stance against the separatists there.2014-05-25T11:44:00Z2014-05-27T11:44:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/whoever-wins-ukraine-election-faces-an-uncertain-mandate-and-no-easy-path-to-peace-27145The Conversation: Meriam Ibrahim death sentence: West needs to give Sudan a bit of face timeNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Jonathan Fisher. The case of Meriam Ibrahim, a pregnant woman sentenced to death for apostasy by a Khartoum court, has rightly refocused international attention on the dire state of human rights in Sudan.2014-05-23T16:53:00Z2014-05-23T16:38:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/meriam-ibrahim-death-sentence-west-needs-to-give-sudan-a-bit-of-face-time-27005The Conversation: The other pivot to Asia and why success in China is not all it seems for Putin's RussiaNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Richard Connolly. The headline accomplishment of Vladimir Putin's trip to China is hard to deny: a 30-year deal estimated to be worth US$400 billion for Russia to deliver gas to China. But it isn't the unqualified win that Putin's supporters might claim. For Russia has been backed into a corner.2014-05-23T16:53:00Z2014-05-23T16:40:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/the-other-pivot-to-asia-and-why-success-in-china-is-not-all-it-seems-for-putins-russia-27039The Conversation: London aside, Farage's UKIP now has its imprint on EnglandNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. You'll be expecting, understandably, UKIP stuff – and there will be, but later. These were elections to determine the political and policy control of 161 English local authorities. Working for a department known in the wider world as the Institute of Local Government Studies, it would be inappropriate for me not to look first at those councils where we know control has changed hands, none of which directly involve UKIP – almost inevitably, given its almost baseline starting point.2014-05-23T16:32:00Z2014-05-23T16:26:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/london-aside-farages-ukip-now-has-its-imprint-on-england-27131Saving Humans blog: Building "A Spiral of Trust" through GRITNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler. Our last blog explored how peaceful/defensive self-images and ideological fundamentalist beliefs can generate security competition, even between states with peaceful motives and intentions. How, then, might a spiral of distrust be substituted for a 'spiral of trust'.2014-05-23T10:24:00Z2014-05-23T10:18:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/05/21/building-a-spiral-of-trust-through-grit/Saving Humans blog: 'Frame-Breaking Conciliatory Moves between Enemies'Nathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler. The Red October vignette is the stuff of fiction and Hollywood, and the question is whether it has any relevance to building trust in the contemporary world. Kupchan used the story to argue in his book that it was dramatic, frame-breaking moves of this kind that are necessary for adversaries to begin a process of diplomatic accommodation, but the cases he discussed in the second part of his book (especially the Anglo-American rapprochement in the late 19th Century) provide little evidence for this claim.2014-05-23T10:01:00Z2014-05-23T09:59:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/05/22/frame-breaking-conciliatory-moves-between-enemies/The Conversation: Labour should be the biggest local winner – this year anywayNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. Two countries have synchronised their EU election and local election dates this cycle: Greece and parts of the UK (England and Northern Ireland).2014-05-22T16:24:00Z2014-05-23T16:24:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/labour-should-be-the-biggest-local-winner-this-year-anyway-27038Blog: Notes on the 'Worthless Dowry' of Soviet Industrial ModernityNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Jeremy Morris. The monotown, or 'town-forming enterprise', was, and remains a key organisation of urban space in the former Soviet Union. Bound up with such a specifically socialist-conception of space is a host of social and cultural signifiers relating to class, kinship, social networks, local identity, and more.2014-05-21T10:56:00Z2014-05-23T11:12:00Zhttp://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/notes-on-worthless-dowry-of-soviet.htmlSaving Humans blog: Psychological Drivers of Distrust Between AdversariesNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler. I concluded yesterday's blog by suggesting that perhaps our values and beliefs lead us astray when it comes to thinking about the possibilities for building trust in International politics. I want to pursue this theme today by exploring two key beliefs that promote distrust, and hence fuel security competition.2014-05-20T15:15:00Z2014-05-20T14:52:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/05/20/psychological-drivers-of-distrust-between-adversaries/Saving Humans blog: Trust as a Path to De-Escalation and Frame-Breaking in International PoliticsNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler. 'There is little room for trust among states', so wrote the Chicago based professor of International Relations, John Mearsheimer, in his 2001 opus, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics. Trust, Mearsheimer argued, is virtually impossible because states coexist in a condition of international anarchy (defined in the field of International Relations as the absence of a global government) that generates a perpetual competition for security.2014-05-20T10:03:00Z2014-05-20T09:54:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/05/19/trust-as-a-path-to-de-escalation-and-frame-breaking-in-international-politics/Blog: Could Russia Repeat a Ukraine Scenario in Belarus?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Matthew Frear. Russia's intervention in Ukraine has often been justified in terms of defending the interests of ethnic Russians. According to the 2009 national census, almost 800,000 Russians live in Belarus – 8.3% of the population. As the titular nationality, Belarusians are actually in quite a strong position – ethnic Belarusians make up a larger proportion of the population of Belarus than Ukrainians do in Ukraine or Russians do in the Russian Federation.2014-05-19T11:10:00Z2014-05-23T11:10:00Zhttp://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/could-russia-repeat-ukraine-scenario-in.htmlDr Jeremy Morris shortlisted for prestigious BBC Radio 4 Thinking Allowed Award for EthnographyNathan JohnsonYou can hear about his nominated article "Beyond coping? Alternatives to consumption within a social network of Russian workers" on BBC Radio 4's website.2014-05-16T11:04:00Z2014-05-23T11:04:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/05/jeremy-morris-shortlisted-thinking-allowed-award-for-ethnography.aspxDr Jeremy Morris announced as Visiting Research Fellow, Aleksanteri Institute, University of HelsinkiNathan JohnsonJeremy Morris was one of a few outstanding international scholars to be awarded this prestigious appointment for 2014-15, against record competition of 176 applications.2014-05-16T11:04:00Z2014-05-23T11:04:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/05/jeremy-morris-visiting-research-fellow.aspxBlog: Under what conditions are decisions best made? Football managers and the public sectorNathan JohnsonWritten by Ian Briggs. I am not much of a football follower, but I am becoming increasingly bemused by the fascination for premiership clubs in becoming so closely associated with their managers. You can hardly fail to notice that the headlines stories on the back pages of newspapers concentrate a great deal on the relative merits of the approaches taken by the current crop of managers. Am I alone in thinking that they get more attention now than the players?2014-05-14T10:22:00Z2014-05-14T10:08:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/football-managers/University of Birmingham and IPEG workshop: Global Economic Crisis - Which economy and what crisis? An exploration of alternative frameworksNathan JohnsonThis workshop (Wednesday 02 April 2014) was set up with the aim of facilitating discussion across different critical approaches to political economy, to develop and clarify the conceptual assumptions that alternative positions have and hence to sharpen our understanding of similarities and substantive differences. The aim was to initiate a research project that moved beyond the current situation of 'parallel conversations' and begins a more systematic understanding and synthesis of political economic approaches to the global financial crisis.2014-05-13T15:14:00Z2014-05-13T16:06:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/05/global-economic-crisis.aspxBlog: Can the CIS Survive the Ukraine Crisis?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Rilka Dragneva. The death of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has been foretold many times during its history of (now) more than 20 years. Dissatisfaction with its weak and confusing institutional structure and a failure to promote effective regional integration has become an almost permanent background to its existence. Despite the remarkable resilience of the CIS, there are several signs suggesting that the current crisis is more fundamental and extreme than previous shake-ups.2014-05-12T11:14:00Z2014-05-23T11:14:00Zhttp://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/can-cis-survive-ukraine-crisis.htmlThe Conversation: Ukraine separatists engaged in high-risk game as they press on with referendum planNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). Vladimir Putin's statements giving qualified support for presidential elections in Ukraine on May 25, calling on separatists in eastern Ukraine to postpone their planned referendums and announcing a pull-back of troops from Ukraine's border, has been greeted with scepticism in Kiev, Brussels, London and Washington.2014-05-09T10:31:00Z2014-05-14T10:31:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/ukraine-separatists-engaged-in-high-risk-game-as-they-press-on-with-referendum-plan-26279Blog: Gerrymandering in Northern Ireland local government? Surely not.Nathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. It seemed obvious from the outset that Gerry Adams' arrest in connection with the 1972 murder of Jean McConville was a momentous event with potentially massive implications: long-term, short-term, north and south of the border. So I was slightly surprised the following morning to hear a Sinn Fein spokesperson, protesting about the timing of the arrest, highlight its impact specifically on the Northern Ireland local elections.2014-05-08T16:02:00Z2014-05-13T16:04:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/gerrymandering-in-northern-ireland/Blog: Public data: saleable asset or national resource?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Tom Barrance. Recent announcements by two government agencies, the HMRC and the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), regarding the sale of information has thrown a spotlight upon government information and the attendant debates of privacy verses exploitation. What is the ownership of information collected by the state? Held in trust for the citizen, or seen as assets like 3/4G mobile phone licences to be sold by government to the highest bidder? Or should all government data be treated as open data that is made freely available to all?2014-04-30T17:22:00Z2014-05-06T09:22:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/public-data/Blog: The 2014 local elections – a previewNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. Two EU countries this May will hold local elections that coincide with their European parliamentary elections: Greece and ourselves. On Sunday 25 May Greeks vote in the second, 'run-off' round of elections to all their 13 regions and 325 municipalities. England, though nearly five times as populous as Greece, also has 325 lower-tier and unitary authorities. We, however, will elect mostly only fractions of fewer than half of our councils, yet still it takes seven lines of a table to summarise the 161 authorities whose voters on Thursday 22 May will probably have both a local and Euro vote. We bemoan our disappointing local turnouts, but we don't make the system exactly voter-friendly.2014-04-29T14:39:00Z2014-04-29T14:06:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/the-2014-local-elections-a-preview/POLSIS Seminar Series 2013-14Nathan JohnsonPOLSIS hosts a number of seminars throughout the year which focuses on a number of different topics. Listen to the latest podcasts from our recent events.2014-04-29T11:59:00Z2014-04-29T11:24:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/events/seminar-series/2013-14/index.aspxIDD Guest Seminar Series 2013-14Nathan JohnsonThe International Development Department hosts a number of seminars throughout the autumn term which focuses on a number of different topics. The seminars are open to everyone. Listen to the latest podcasts from our recent events.2014-04-29T11:26:00Z2014-04-29T11:27:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/events/guest-seminar-series/2013-14/index.aspxSaving Humans Blog: When facing down Putin, don't let him choose your groundNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Adam Quinn. American presidents often grow to enjoy foreign-policymaking more than the domestic kind as their time in office goes on. One reason is that they find that the comparative lack of interest it holds for both Congress and the general public allows them scope to make decisions with less need to bend to short-term political pressure. Sometimes, however, events come together in such a way as to thrust foreign policy into the spotlight of the 24-hour news cameras, as they did in Ukraine in February with the overthrow by popular uprising of President Viktor Yanukovych.2014-04-28T16:32:00Z2014-05-06T09:32:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/04/28/when-facing-down-putin-dont-let-him-choose-your-ground/The Conversation: With Geneva deal dead Ukraine could be pivotal moment for international relationsNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). The Geneva Agreement appears to be dead in the water. Achieved only a week ago, it was widely considered a surprising breakthrough, albeit one which offered major concessions to Russia.2014-04-25T11:31:00Z2014-04-29T11:32:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/all-eyes-on-russia-as-ukraine-hurtles-towards-civil-war-25400Blog: Should I stay or should I go? Why the UK should stay out of the Crimea issueNathan JohnsonIván Farías, Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Political Science and International Studies argues why the UK should stay out of the Crimea issue.2014-04-24T09:26:00Z2014-04-24T09:05:00Zhttp://polsis.org/2014/04/17/should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-why-the-uk-should-stay-out-of-the-crimea-issue/Blog: Déjà Vu? Regionalism and Separatism in Ukraine in a Longer Term PerspectiveNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Kataryna Wolczuk. In 1991 Ukraine emerged as an independent country with strong regional differences. The reconciling of these differences has since represented one of the most profound challenges that Ukraine has faced and failed to address. A lack of effective and systematic efforts to tackle regional diversity has repeatedly presented grave ramifications for Ukraine's political cohesion and territorial integrity.2014-04-21T09:20:00Z2014-04-29T09:26:00Zhttp://creesbham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/deja-vu-regionalism-and-separatism-in.html#moreThe Conversation: Breakthrough in Ukraine talks is a win-win situation, especially for RussiaNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. The four-party talks on the crisis in Ukraine have apparently produced a significant breakthrough towards the diffusion of an increasingly dangerous situation.2014-04-18T16:41:00Z2014-04-24T09:52:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/breakthrough-in-ukraine-talks-is-a-win-win-situation-especially-for-russia-25346DLP to present at UNDP/KPMG conference 'Leadership and the Challenge of Change'Nathan JohnsonDLP will give a major presentation of its findings at UNDP/KPMG's 2014 International Development Conference in Singapore on 30 April 2014.2014-04-17T10:15:00Z2014-04-17T09:56:00Zhttp://www.dlprog.org/news-events/dlp-to-present-at-undp-kpmg-conference-leadership-and-the-challenge-of-change-.phpThe Conversation: Ukraine crisis: is the West powerless to stop Russian aggression?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. As the situation in Ukraine rapidly spins out of control, various Western leaders have stepped up their verbal warnings to Russia.2014-04-15T17:50:00Z2014-04-24T09:52:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/ukraine-crisis-is-the-west-powerless-to-stop-russian-aggression-25347The Conversation: Now Crimea's in the bag, where next for Putin and Russia?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). The Ukrainian government has announced that it will mount a full-scale military operation to regain control of the east of the country and has set a deadline of 6am on Monday morning for occupied government buildings to be evacuated by armed protesters.2014-04-15T09:47:00Z2014-04-15T09:21:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/all-eyes-on-russia-as-ukraine-hurtles-towards-civil-war-25400INLOGOV briefing paper: The 2014 local elections – a previewNathan JohnsonBy Chris Game. This year's English local elections have been postponed to Thursday 22nd May to coincide with those to the European Parliament. There are all-out elections in the London boroughs, elections by thirds in the metropolitan boroughs, and a mixture of the two in some unitaries and shire districts. This preview will lead you through this potential confusion, and also provide a guide to those councils most likely to change political control.2014-04-14T15:01:00Z2014-04-15T12:10:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/2014/2014-local-elections.pdfIGS podcast: "Anglifizierung" und "Globalisierung"Nathan JohnsonSpeaker: Dr Falco Pfalzgraf (QMUL). '"Anglifizierung" und "Globalisierung": Aktuelle Diskurse zu Entlehnungen und moderner Sprachpurismus'.2014-04-14T09:22:00Z2014-04-14T15:01:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/anglifizierung-globalisierung.aspxIGS podcast: British society, Georgian Monarchy and the Anniversaries of the 'German Connection' (1814 – 2014)Nathan JohnsonSpeaker: Dr Torsten Riotte (Goethe-Universitat, Frankfurt-am-Main). Not a Dynastic Centenary: British society, Georgian Monarchy and the Anniversaries of the 'German Connection' (1814 – 2014).2014-04-14T09:22:00Z2014-04-14T15:00:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/british-society-georgian-monarchy.aspxIDD PGR podcast: The Ownership of Official Development Assistance in Jamaica 2005-2013Nathan JohnsonSpeaker: Vaughn Graham (PhD researcher, University of Birmingham). The Ownership of Official Development Assistance in the Security and Justice Sector in Jamaica 2005-2013: How the Nature of Sectoral Policymaking Reflects and Challenges International Aid Policy.2014-04-14T09:22:00Z2014-04-14T15:56:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/04/ownership-security-justice-sector-jamaica.aspxICCS seminar series podcast: Peace Negotiations and Peacebuilding in the Middle EastNathan JohnsonPeace Negotiations and Peacebuilding in the Middle East: The Role of Religion and Culture in Processes of Reconciliation. Guest Speaker: Professor Kamel Abu Jaber (Director, Jordan Institute for Middle East Studies). Chair: Professor Nicholas Wheeler, Discussants: Professor Stefan Wolff, Dr Josef Boehle, Dr Christalla Yakinthou, Dr Asaf Siniver.2014-04-14T09:22:00Z2014-04-14T14:55:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/peace-negotiations-peacebuilding-middle-east.aspxICCS seminar series podcast: Chemically Massacring CiviliansNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Paul Schulte. This talk examines and assesses the effectiveness of emerging international responses to chemical attacks during the Syrian Civil War. It considers historical context, attitudes towards WMD possession and use, and recurrent structural aspects of Great Power interest, affecting the choices and legitimate knowledge available to international organisations.2014-04-14T09:22:00Z2014-04-14T14:55:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/chemically-massacring-civilians.aspxIGS podcast: Imagining Violence in Women in 1970's West GermanyNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Dr Claire Bielby (University of Hull) presented a lecture on 'Imagining Violence in Women in 1970's West Germany'.2014-04-14T08:57:00Z2014-04-14T14:59:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/imagining-violence-women-1970-west-germany.aspxThe Conversation: Ukraine crisis: are Moldova and its Transnistrian region next on Moscow's to-do-list?Nathan JohnsonNATO foreign ministers have agreed to suspend all cooperation with Russia and bolster their defence posture in the Baltic states and Poland. This move reflects the continuing perception of a Russian threat to Ukraine, a point made abundantly clear in a statement by the German chancellor Angela Merkel – which is particularly significant given that Germany is usually seen as Russia's closest ally in the West.2014-04-10T13:55:00Z2014-04-14T14:57:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/ukraine-crisis-are-moldova-and-its-transnistrian-region-next-on-moscows-to-do-list-25181The Conversation: Ukraine a pawn in high-stakes global game with no quick win in sight for EU, US or RussiaNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). Ukraine appears to be heading towards another crisis. Protests in the eastern cities of Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk have turned violent and pro-Russian protesters occupied government buildings, calling for a referendum on independence. In Donetsk, in an eerie echo of events in Crimea, separatists went one step further and have now proclaimed their own independent Donetsk People's Republic and asked Russia for support.2014-04-10T13:55:00Z2014-04-14T14:56:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/ukraine-veers-closer-to-collapse-as-activists-in-donetsk-proclaim-peoples-republic-25351New article: When does service delivery improve the legitimacy of a fragile state?Nathan JohnsonClaire Mcloughlin's new article in Governance takes stock of the theory and evidence on the relationship between service delivery and state legitimacy in fragile and conflict-affected states, challenging received wisdom.2014-04-09T15:33:00Z2014-04-17T09:52:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/04/when-does-service-delivery-improve-legitimacy-fragile-state.aspxPrestigious research programme makes its home at IDDNathan JohnsonA prestigious international research initiative, the Developmental Leadership Program, is to make its home at IDD with funding in place to continue its work for the next three years.2014-04-09T15:33:00Z2014-04-10T14:04:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/04/prestigious-research-programme-makes-home-at-idd.aspxThe Conversation: 20 years on, Rwanda exhausts its 'genocide credit' with donorsNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Danielle Beswick. On 7 April 2014, Rwanda commemorates the 20th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi. The events of 1994 continue to cast a long shadow over both Rwanda and the international community. As the world remembers along with Rwanda, it is important to reflect not only on the lessons and legacies of the genocide itself, but also the role of Western donors in supporting Rwanda's transition to a peaceful and more prosperous future.2014-04-04T13:28:00Z2014-04-04T13:25:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/20-years-on-rwanda-exhausts-its-genocide-credit-with-donors-25112POLSIS seminar series podcast: Britain and the EU: Towards Brexit?Nathan JohnsonThe Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speakers: Tim Bale (Queen Mary), Isabelle Hertner, Tim Haughton (POLSIS) and Nathaniel Copsey (Aston University).2014-04-02T09:09:00Z2014-04-14T15:00:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/04/britain-eu-brexit.aspxThe Conversation: Can the US and Russia talk their way out of crisis in Ukraine?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. Talks between US secretary of state John Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Paris, followed after a week of high-level diplomacy, including a phone call between presidents Obama and Putin.2014-04-01T17:29:00Z2014-04-14T14:59:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/can-the-us-and-russia-talk-their-way-out-of-crisis-in-ukraine-25044Blog: The Great NHS Robbery - and the great fraud headline conNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. Some social phenomena are exceptionally tricky to measure: the black economy, white-collar crime, illegal immigration. So when someone claims to have done so, no matter how flaky their findings, they attract huge, and largely uncritical, media attention. Like last week's excitement about the scale of NHS fraud.2014-04-01T17:29:00Z2014-04-01T17:19:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/04/01/great-nhs-robbery/Blog: Special CREES/POLSIS Seminar - The production of Migrants in Contemporary CapitalismNathan JohnsonThe special CREES/POLSIS Seminar on The Production of Migrants in Contemporary Capitalism presented the work of two young scholars: Dr Nikolaos Xypolytas (University of Cyprus) and Dr Bahar Baser (University of Warwick).2014-03-31T16:38:00Z2014-05-06T09:39:00Zhttp://polsis.org/2014/03/31/special-creespolsis-seminar-the-production-of-migrants-in-contemporary-capitalism/The Conversation: Despite the rumble of Russian tanks the main weapon in Ukraine is informationNathan JohnsonWritten by recent CREES PhD graduate Victoria Hudson. In the information age, success is not merely the result of whose army wins, but also of whose story wins." The words of Harvard scholar Joseph Nye have been borne out in Ukraine.2014-03-26T10:28:00Z2014-03-26T10:18:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/despite-the-rumble-of-russian-tanks-the-main-weapon-in-ukraine-is-information-24437Blog: Rebalancing BritainNathan JohnsonThe Scottish referendum campaign is having an interesting knock-on impact on English political debate. The position and dominance of London – the place Scots most dislike about the United Kingdom in its present form – is being looked at more critically. There have been a couple of think tank reports recently, but the debate has moved quite a way beyond the narrow audiences that these reports usually attract. That in itself is a reflection of the way the ground is shifting.2014-03-24T09:13:00Z2014-03-24T09:06:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/rebalancing-britain/Blog: The impact agenda and political agencyNathan JohnsonWritten by Matthew Wood. Why should we, as political scientists, 'bother' with impact? My answer is that as social actors we cannot avoid 'impacting' on society in one way or another, just like any other profession. The question is how we should choose to influence society. As British political scientists our choices are, thankfully, quite broad.2014-03-21T12:30:00Z2014-03-21T12:12:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/21/impact-agenda-agency/Blog: Three problems with the impact agendaNathan JohnsonWritten by Katherine Tonkiss. In a recent post for the LSE Impact of Social Sciences Blog, I argued with Catherine Durose that while the idea of delivering policy relevant research is positive, too often our claims to relevance do not deliver genuine impact.2014-03-19T10:47:00Z2014-03-19T10:37:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/three-problems-with-impact/The Conversation: Now Crimea's in the bag, where next for Putin and Russia?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has now apparently formalised the annexation by announcing two new laws that make Crimea and Sevastopol subjects of the Russian Federation and has signed a treaty to this effect with Crimea's pro-Russian leaders.2014-03-19T09:55:00Z2014-03-26T09:55:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/now-crimeas-in-the-bag-where-next-for-putin-and-russia-24521The Conversation: Crimea votes to secede from Ukraine as EU considers sanctions against RussiaNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). Crimeans have voted by a huge margin to secede from Ukraine. According to early reports released after 50% of the ballots had been counted more than 95% of votes were in favour of joining Russia.2014-03-18T15:28:00Z2014-03-18T15:21:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/crimea-votes-to-secede-from-ukraine-as-eu-considers-sanctions-against-russia-24426IDD Guest seminar podcast: The Power In-Between: Youth's Subaltern Agency and the Post-Conflict EverydayNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Dr Sukaynya Podder, Department of Management and Security, Cranfield University.2014-03-13T10:33:00Z2014-03-13T10:10:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/03/youth-subaltern-agency-post-conflict.aspxThe Conversation: How can Ukraine, Crimea and Russia secure a stable future?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). The situation in Ukraine is still highly volatile, especially in relation to Crimea and continuing uncertainty about Russia's intentions. But there is a need to consider what a longer-term solution might look like in light of the different demands being made.2014-03-12T07:36:00Z2014-03-13T10:46:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/how-can-ukraine-crimea-and-russia-secure-a-stable-future-23947The Conversation: Seizing EU and US assets won't help Russia – it needs the investmentNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Richard Connolly. With the Crimean parliament voting to join Russia, and EU leaders discussing potential sanctions, the Ukrainian crisis continues to escalate. But what if Russia's next seizure wasn't further territory but rather Exxon Mobil's gas fields, or Volkswagen's factories?2014-03-12T07:36:00Z2014-03-12T07:28:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/seizing-eu-and-us-assets-wont-help-russia-it-needs-the-investment-24080The Conversation: A divided Ukraine could see two radically different states emergeNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Richard Connolly. It is increasingly difficult to predict what the future holds for Ukraine. One scenario sees the country becoming divided along roughly ethnic lines, with an ethnic Ukrainian western state and a more Russia-oriented eastern state comprising today's southern and eastern Ukraine. So what would the economies of these potential new states look like?2014-03-11T07:32:00Z2014-03-13T12:40:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/a-divided-ukraine-could-see-two-radically-different-states-emerge-23946Cooperation in the Contemporary World: University of Birmingham unveils latest MOOCNathan JohnsonExperts from the the School of Government and Society including the International Development Department, Department of Political Science and International Studies and the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security at the University of Birmingham have introduced a free, open online course today offering a taste of higher education to learners worldwide. Registration is now live for this online course which is scheduled to start in May 2014.2014-03-10T16:30:00Z2014-07-21T10:34:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2014/03/cooperation-contemporary-world-mooc.aspxBlog: The Political Colour of an English ParliamentNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. One of the closing questions put to Professor Eastwood following his recent Distinguished Lecture on The British State: Past, Present and Future concerned the place, if any, of an English Parliament in the kind of future federal or quasi-federal Britain about which the lecture had speculated.2014-03-07T11:26:00Z2014-03-11T12:38:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/07/the-political-colour-of-an-english-parliament/IDD Guest seminar podcast: The Risks of African Military Capacity Building: Lessons From RwandaNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Dr Danielle Beswick (IDD, University of Birmingham).2014-03-07T10:59:00Z2014-03-11T09:36:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/03/risks-african-capacity-building.aspxBlog: Migration, citizenship and diversity: questioning the boundariesNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Katherine Tonkiss and Dr Nando Sigona. In recent decades, a significant transformation in the meanings, practices and experiences of membership in contemporary Western democracies has taken place. These transformations have challenged traditional conceptions of state membership which have typically assumed the existence of a nation-state, with a burgeoning line of scholarship challenging the significance of the nation-state in determining membership and endowing rights. This literature argues that recent trends in globalisation, human rights and multiculturalism have made state borders less important.2014-03-06T11:14:00Z2014-03-07T11:17:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/migration-citizenship-and-diversity-questioning-the-boundaries/A divided Ukraine could see two radically different states emergeNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Richard Connolly. "It is increasingly difficult to predict what the future holds for Ukraine. One scenario sees the country becoming divided along roughly ethnic lines, with an ethnic Ukrainian western state and a more Russia-oriented eastern state comprising today's southern and eastern Ukraine. So what would the economies of these potential new states look like?"2014-03-05T13:07:00Z2014-04-29T14:03:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/divided-ukraine.aspxThe Conversation: Putin calling all the shots in Ukraine: what next for relations between Russia and the West?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). After days of heightening tensions and increasingly aggressive rhetoric, Russian president Vladimir Putin requested, and was promptly granted, authorisation to deploy Russian troops in Ukraine until the situation there had "normalised". Yet, after further diplomatic efforts, including a 90-minute telephone call between presidents Obama and Putin, there has so far been no actual military escalation, even though the increased presence of Russian troops in Crimea and Ukraine's announcement to call up military reservists have heightened the potential for serious violence.2014-03-04T11:02:00Z2014-03-13T10:36:00Zhttps://theconversation.com/putin-calling-all-the-shots-in-ukraine-what-next-for-relations-between-russia-and-the-west-23867Tim Haughton reappointed joint editor of the JCMS Annual Review of the EUNathan JohnsonCREES Director Tim Haughton and Nathaniel Copsey (Aston University) have been reappointed as the editors of the Journal of Common Market Studies Annual Review of the European Union.2014-03-04T11:02:00Z2014-03-13T16:30:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/03/joint-editor-jcms-annual-review-eu.aspxThe Conversation: Crimea flashpoint raises stakes in Russia's regional power playNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). As events in Crimea escalate and become a focal point in the broader struggle within Ukraine, between Ukraine and Russia, and between Russia and the West, one key question is about Russia's larger game plan.2014-03-03T10:43:00Z2014-03-13T10:37:00Zhttps://theconversation.com/crimea-flashpoint-raises-stakes-in-russias-regional-power-play-23863The Conversation: Crimea: the polarised peninsula threatening to rip Ukraine apartNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). These are dangerous times in Crimea. While the ongoing crisis in Ukraine has exposed the division between the country's pro-Western and pro-Russian populations, another divide is more clear-cut and arguably more imminently threatening: the divide between supporters and opponents of separatism in Crimea.2014-02-28T10:41:00Z2014-03-12T07:36:00Zhttps://theconversation.com/crimea-the-polarised-peninsula-threatening-to-rip-ukraine-apart-23739Saving Humans Blog: What is to be done?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Jonna Nyman. The blog posts this week have raised a series of questions about energy security. Conventional political thinking on energy security has a narrow focus which emphasises the need to secure state energy supplies. Sustainability is largely ignored, as short-term economic benefit is continually prioritised. The political and military survival of states is prioritised over environmental or climate stability, and human security. So what is to be done?2014-02-28T09:04:00Z2014-02-28T09:00:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/02/28/what-is-to-be-done/IDD PGR podcast: Cultural Trauma, Youth and Class: Reflections on Fieldwork with Tibetan Refugee YouthNathan JohnsonSpeaker: James Connell, PhD researcher, International Development Department, University of Birmingham2014-02-27T15:18:00Z2014-03-11T09:38:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/02/cultural-trauma-youth-class.aspxSaving Humans Blog: Energy security as human securityNathan JohnsonWritten by Jonna Nyman. Not only are current patterns of energy exploitation a key contributor to climate instability, they also affect human security directly.2014-02-27T11:58:00Z2014-02-27T11:45:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/02/27/energy-security-as-human-security/ICCS seminar series podcast: Strategy a HistoryNathan JohnsonOn the 24th February 2014 Sir Lawrence Freedman launched his latest book (Financial Times book of the year 2013) as part of our ICCS Seminar Series. This event took place in the Business School at the University of Birmingham.2014-02-26T10:45:00Z2014-03-13T10:31:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/02/strategy-a-history.aspxThe Conversation: Ukraine a pawn in high-stakes global game with no quick win in sight for EU, US or RussiaNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff and Professor Tatyana Malyarenko (Professor of Public Administration at Donetsk State Management University). It was just last Friday that the Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych and three leaders of the parliamentary opposition – Vitaliy Klichko, Oleh Tyahnibok, and Arsenij Yatseniuk – signed an agreement on how to end the two-month crisis that has engulfed Ukraine. They did so as the protests turned increasingly violent, with up to 100 people killed in the days immediately before the agreement.2014-02-26T10:39:00Z2014-03-12T07:38:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/ukraine-a-pawn-in-high-stakes-global-game-with-no-quick-win-in-sight-for-eu-us-or-russia-23670Saving Humans Blog: Energy security vs climate securityNathan JohnsonWritten by Jonna Nyman. It is clear that energy security opens up some difficult questions about what or whose security should be prioritised. At the centre of this is the growing conflict between the focus of much energy security policy and discussion on fossil fuels, and the human need for a stable climate and environment. Energy security as currently understood by most policymakers is incompatible with a stable climate. We see perhaps the biggest conflict between energy and climate security today in China.2014-02-26T10:31:00Z2014-02-26T10:22:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/02/26/energy-security-vs-climate-security/Blog: Body / State in An Age of AusterityNathan JohnsonOn Saturday 22nd February, the University of Birmingham's Gender and Feminist Theory Research Group were delighted to co-sponsor and host the PSA Women in Politics Specialist Group 's bi-annual conference. The conference was oriented around feminist scholarship that has sought to illuminate the ways in which states and bodies are intertwined both in general and in an age of austerity in particular.2014-02-25T18:13:00Z2014-02-25T17:54:00Zhttp://polsis.org/2014/02/25/body-state-in-an-age-of-austerity-saturday-22nd-february-2014/Podcast: Foucault, Sexuality, and Sustainable Development by Dr Emma FosterNathan JohnsonIn this talk, Dr Foster applies the Foucauldian concepts of biopower and governance to ecology. She describes the rhetoric of the UN's sustainable development policy documents as both gender conservative and heteronormative. She shows how demography itself is a biopolitical instrument and and imagines how a queer approach to ecology might understand nature differently, and outside of the 'resources versus people' dichotomy.2014-02-25T17:51:00Z2014-02-25T17:34:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/02/foucault-sexuality-sustainable-development.aspxSaving Humans Blog: Energy security and saving humansNathan JohnsonWritten by Jonna Nyman. Energy security is increasingly the subject of headlines around the world. Most states rely heavily on fossil fuels to serve their energy needs, and as these fuels are finite they will eventually run out. There is an ongoing debate over whether or not we already have or will hit 'peak oil' in the near future, but either way there is increasing worry over the availability of, and access to, energy in years to come.2014-02-25T10:00:00Z2014-02-25T09:57:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/02/24/energy-security-and-saving-humans/Saving Humans Blog: Saving humans or saving states?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Jonna Nyman. For some states, growing concern over energy security is turning them inwards as they attempt to maximise their own energy supplies. Much of the US energy security debate is centred around the desire for energy 'independence', an enticing dream of a United States which does not need to depend on anyone else. A key part of the solution presented by policy makers is to maximise domestic fossil fuel production...2014-02-25T10:00:00Z2014-02-25T09:59:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/02/25/saving-humans-or-saving-states/Blog: The Coalition's mishandling of recall: worse than Baldrick's war poemNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. Seeking an arresting phrase to convey the protracted abjectness of the events described in this blog, my first thought was Education Secretary Michael Gove's 'misbegotten shambles' – his accusatory summary of how certain historians and popular TV programmes like Blackadder have depicted the First World War.2014-02-24T11:06:00Z2014-02-24T10:53:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/the-coalitions-mishandling-of-recall/POLSIS European Studies workshop: Broadening Approaches to the European CrisisNathan JohnsonOn Tuesday 11 February the POLSIS European Studies Research Group hosted a day-long workshop titled, 'Broadening Approaches to the European Crisis: History, Theory, Responses'. The workshop aimed to bring together scholars currently working on the European/Eurozone crisis – based both within and outside of the University of Birmingham.2014-02-24T10:44:00Z2014-02-24T10:28:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/02/european-studies-workshop.aspxSaving humans Blog: World Government: Not Quite an Idea Whose Time has Come, but No Longer So Far from the Academic MainstreamNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Luis Cabrera. I can say without much reservation that I am one of the most avid students of world government alive today. Of course, I'm careful when and where I say that…2014-02-21T11:04:00Z2014-02-21T11:00:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/02/21/world-government-not-quite-an-idea-whose-time-has-come-but-no-longer-so-far-from-the-academic-mainstream/Saving humans Blog: Democracy, Rights and European Hopes in TurkeyNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Luis Cabrera. Today I want to shift the focus from India and the Dalit (former untouchables) human rights struggle to Turkey. The two may not be obvious cases to treat in the same book or blog series, but in fact, some important issues intersect in both. In the Dalit human rights case, activists struggling on behalf of a category of persons within a country assert that those persons' rights are being systematically violated.2014-02-20T14:57:00Z2014-02-21T10:58:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/02/20/democracy-rights-and-european-hopes-in-turkey/Saving humans Blog: Applying Global Pressure to Domestic Justice Issues: India's National Campaign for Dalit Human RightsNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Luis Cabrera. Yesterday I wrote about field research I had conducted among unauthorized immigrants in the US and Europe, as well as with immigration authorities and activists. I thought it could be appropriate to follow that up with a brief discussion of some current field research which intersects in some significant ways with the concerns of the Saving Humans initiative.2014-02-19T14:55:00Z2014-02-21T10:56:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/02/19/applying-global-pressure-to-domestic-justice-issues-indias-national-campaign-for-dalit-human-rights/Saving humans Blog: Studying Global Ethics in its Lived Contexts: Unauthorized Migration and Global CitizenshipNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Luis Cabrera. I started my professional (post-university) career as a journalist in Seattle for The Associated Press, the global newswire service. Wire service work has a reputation in the trade as a bit of grind, and there were indeed plenty of overnight shifts spent rewriting local newspaper copy for the wire.2014-02-19T09:38:00Z2014-02-19T09:35:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2014/02/18/studying-global-ethics-in-its-lived-contexts-unauthorized-migration-and-global-citizenship/IDD Guest seminar podcast: Development Strategies and Theories - A Perspective from TanzaniaNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Dr Andrew Coulson, Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham.2014-02-12T09:47:00Z2014-03-11T09:48:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/02/development-strategies-theories-tanzania.aspxThe Conversation: Al-Qaeda: thinking local in regional turmoil spells trouble for the WestNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. In his 2014 State of the Union address, President Obama noted that the threat from al-Qaeda had evolved with affiliates of the terror group taking root in places as diverse as Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, and Mali.2014-02-06T15:42:00Z2014-02-06T15:37:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/al-qaeda-thinking-local-in-regional-turmoil-spells-trouble-for-the-west-22677POLSIS seminar series podcast: Deliberative leadershipNathan JohnsonThe Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speaker: John Parkinson (Warwick) Discussant: Andrew Knops.2014-02-06T12:38:00Z2014-02-06T12:27:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2014/02/deliberative-leadership.aspxBlog: The Big Society lasted 1000 days. Will we ever see ideas of its like again?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Stephen Jeffares. "This is not the first time in the last year we have heard reports of "big ideas" "biting the dust". The same has been levelled at Cameron's purported big idea in politics: The Big Society."2014-02-05T11:17:00Z2014-02-05T14:18:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/big-society/Blog: Who is in control of the sandbags?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Philip Whiteman and Ian Briggs. "The recent news that the Minister for the Environment, Owen Patterson, has visited flood torn Somerset and the Environment Agency, has had a bit of a tough time in the media. It has started to open up a few interesting questions and issues around who is actually accountable and who is responsible for flood response."2014-02-04T14:19:00Z2014-02-06T12:39:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/02/04/sandbags/POLSIS seminar series podcast: In a Cross-Fire of Integration: Russia, Europe and Political Crisis in UkraineNathan JohnsonThe Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speakers: Sarah Whitmore (Oxford Brookes), Rilka Dragneva-Lewers (Birmingham Law School), Kataryna Wolczuk (CREES/POLSIS).2014-01-30T12:18:00Z2014-02-13T14:12:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2014/01/political-crisis-ukraine.aspxBlog: The impact of media logic on democratic legitimacy in local governance networksNathan JohnsonWritten by Iris Korthagen and Ingmar van Meerkerk. Many policy- and decision-making processes in today's democracies increasingly take place in governance networks, these are interactive or network forms of governance. This raises an important question of how democratic legitimacy is being shaped in these networks and which factors impact upon this.2014-01-30T10:10:00Z2014-01-30T10:09:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/impact-media-logic/Blog: Can local government govern in the digital age?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Paul Hepburn. The digital age continues to bring policy challenges for local government. From harnessing 'big data' for the public good to developing 'smart' cities the policy expectation is that local authorities will deliver appropriate governance without which, it is argued, urban life in the 21st century is likely to be rendered more complicated, fragmented , unequal and potentially dystopian through ad hoc technological fixes.2014-01-29T09:59:00Z2014-01-29T09:46:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/local-government-digital-age/Blog: Babies, bathwater and bathsNathan JohnsonWritten by Alan Dolg. It came as no surprise that the incoming Conservative government was quick to abolish the Standards Board for England after its 2010 election victory. Media comments and party policy briefs made it plain that the government had no time for what it perceived to be an over-zealous, heavy-handed and centralised regulator that added little value to local government.2014-01-29T09:27:00Z2014-01-29T09:17:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/babies-bathwater-and-baths/Blog: Health and wellbeing boards: a new type of partnership?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Anna Coleman. A great deal rests on Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs), a new type of local partnership. These were established under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, to act as a forum in which leaders from the local health and care system could work together to improve the health and wellbeing of their local population and promote integrated services.2014-01-29T09:27:00Z2014-01-29T09:19:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/health-and-wellbeing-boards/Blog: Crime on the high street goes missingNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor John Raine. For almost two decades now the statistics for recorded crime in England and Wales have been falling. And even though there has always been a difference, of some magnitude, between the numbers gathered through the British Crime Survey – a large-scale sample of the public's experiences of crime victimisation - and the (persistently smaller) statistics compiled by the police, there has been broad agreement at least in the downward trend.2014-01-29T09:26:00Z2014-01-31T12:20:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/crime-on-the-high-street/What you need to know about the causes of the Ukrainian protestsNathan JohnsonWritten by Kataryna Wolczuk (University of Birmingham) and Roman Wolczuk (University of Wolverhampton) on The Monkey Cage.2014-01-29T09:08:00Z2014-02-13T14:13:00Zhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2013/12/09/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-causes-of-the-ukrainian-protests/Crime on the high street goes missingNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor John Raine. For almost two decades now the statistics for recorded crime in England and Wales have been falling. And even though there has always been a difference, of some magnitude, between the numbers gathered through the British Crime Survey – a large-scale sample of the public's experiences of crime victimisation – and the (persistently smaller) statistics compiled by the police, there has been broad agreement at least in the downward trend.2014-01-29T09:08:00Z2014-01-29T09:07:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2014/01/crime-on-the-high-street-goes-missing.aspxIDD Guest seminar podcast: The Spread of the Birmingham Mafia: The Development of In-Country ProgrammesNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Professor Ken Davey OBE, Emeritus Professor, International Development Department, University of Birmingham.2014-01-27T13:45:00Z2014-03-11T09:38:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2014/01/development-in-country-programmes.aspxAriel Sharon dies at 85 after decades as polarising presenceNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Asaf Siniver. "Described by Ronald Reagan as 'a bellicose man who seemed to be chomping at the bit to start a war' and by George W Bush as "a man of peace", few contemporary figures could match Sharon's talent for invoking such contradictory sentiments by two American presidents."2014-01-24T12:32:00Z2014-01-31T12:32:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/ariel-sharon.aspxUnderstanding Society: Guest post by Justin Cruickshank on critical realismNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Justin Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Sociology. This contribution is a response to a lively recent discussion at Understanding Society over the status of transcendental ontology in critical realism, including two posts on Cruickshank's critique of Bhaskar and comments and criticisms offered by Dave Elder-Vass, Mervyn Hartwig, Ruth Groff and Daniel Little.2014-01-22T12:53:00Z2014-01-22T15:09:00Zhttp://understandingsociety.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/guest-post-by-justin-cruickshank-on.htmlBlog: Reason, myth and migrationNathan JohnsonWritten by Phillip Cole. One of the dominant features of public debate about immigration in the United Kingdom is the absence of reason. Many political commentators have begun to notice the reluctance of people to abandon basic myths about immigration, despite the prevalence of evidence that shows those myths to be false.2014-01-21T16:39:00Z2014-01-21T16:18:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/reason-myth-migration/Blog: Violence in South Sudan illustrates the perils of state buildingNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Paul Jackson. The Christmas period in the newest nation in the world, South Sudan, has been a violent one. More than 1,000 people are believed to have died (BBC) with more than 120,000 forced to flee ethnic clashes (BBC) in one of the least developed countries in the world. The President of the UN Security Council, Gerard Arnaud, has warned that this could lead to a fully fledged ethnic war in the country and around 7,500 UN peacekeeping troops have deployed to the country. In a country that is awash with guns and with a long history of violence between ethnic groups, populist political rhetoric along ethnic lines is dangerous.2014-01-15T08:44:00Z2014-03-11T09:39:00Zhttp://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2014/01/14/violence-in-south-sudan-illustrates-the-perils-of-state-building/RUSI Analysis 'The Volgograd Bombings: the Latest Chapter in Putin's War in the Caucasus'Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Cerwyn Moore. The latest bombings in Russia is part of an ongoing war between Putin and Islamist rebels who feed upon a anti-federal, pan-Turkic and pan-Islamist narrative.2014-01-06T11:00:00Z2014-08-20T11:01:00Zhttps://www.rusi.org/analysis/commentary/ref:C52C6F0A75426B/#.U_OoFspARhh International Collaboration mapNathan JohnsonThe College of Social Sciences is proud of its extensive links with universities and other strategic partners throughout the world. Through our network of global partnerships, we engage in a wide range of activities including staff and student exchange and collaboration in research and teaching.2013-12-19T13:51:00Z2014-03-11T08:55:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/collaboration/index.aspxDoctoral Researchers Yearbook 2013Nathan JohnsonThe Yearbook showcases the innovative and cutting edge work of the Doctoral Researchers in the Schools of Business, Education, Government and Society and Social Policy. The quality of the research being undertaken within our Doctoral Research Community is outstanding and this Yearbook highlights the impressive scope, depth and breadth of the research being undertaken.2013-12-18T07:36:00Z2014-03-11T08:55:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/dr-yearbook-2013.pdfPodcast: Making Politics Practical II: Development Politics and the Changing Aid EnvironmentNathan JohnsonThis workshop - which was held at the University of Birmingham and co-hosted between IDD and the PSA Development Politics Group - thus takes the 2007 event forward and explores the '(re)politicisation' of development studies and the need for constructive, rather than merely critical, engagement with policy makers.2013-12-18T07:19:00Z2013-12-18T07:16:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/12/making-politics-practical.aspxBlog: What does the Autumn Statement mean for local government?Nathan JohnsonThis December, in contrast to the previous two years of worse than expected news, the Chancellor has revised his growth forecasts upwards and revised his debt forecasts downwards.2013-12-09T10:49:00Z2013-12-09T10:46:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/autumn-statement-lg/The Conversation: Obama must face down hawks and Israel over Iran dealNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Adam Quinn. The nuclear deal reached between the United States and Iran represents both a breakthrough and a risk for Barack Obama. A breakthrough because it stalls Iran's progress towards nuclear weapons capability for six months, in exchange for only moderate concessions on sanctions, while a bigger final settlement is haggled over.2013-11-29T14:18:00Z2014-03-13T11:01:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/obama-must-face-down-hawks-and-israel-over-iran-deal-20749ICCS seminar series podcast: US medical assistance and smart power strategies in Iraq and AfghanistanNathan Johnson'Health for Health's Sake, Winning for God's Sake: US medical assistance and smart power strategies in Iraq and Afghanistan'. Speaker: Simon Rushton is a Faculty Research Fellow in Department of Politics at the University of Sheffield.2013-11-29T11:27:00Z2013-11-29T11:31:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/11/us-medical-assistance-smart-power-strategies.aspxIDD Guest seminar podcast: The Development of Development: A Personal ViewNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Professor Richard Batley, International Development Department, University of Birmingham. The International Development Department hosts a number of seminars throughout the autumn term which focuses on a number of different topics. The seminars are open to everyone.2013-11-29T11:18:00Z2014-03-11T09:42:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/11/development-personal-view.aspxThe Conversation: Iran's nuclear weapons deal will rebalance the Middle EastNathan JohnsonWritten by Stefan Wolff. Signed by the P5 + Germany and mediated by the EU's foreign policy chief, Baroness Catherine Ashton, the deal achieved with Iran on the latter's nuclear programme has important implications for regional and international security dynamics that go well beyond nuclear weapons.2013-11-27T14:06:00Z2014-03-13T11:01:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/irans-nuclear-weapons-deal-will-rebalance-the-middle-east-20748The Conversation: Joseph Kony peace talks may be just another tacticNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Paul Jackson. The government of the Central African Republic claims to be in talks with one of the world's most enigmatic African guerrilla leaders, Joseph Kony. But Kony has entered talks before with no intention of backing down. This latest announcement follows all the same patterns and should be treated with scepticism.2013-11-25T09:17:00Z2013-11-25T09:12:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/joseph-kony-peace-talks-may-be-just-another-tactic-20662Blog: Electoral reform: STV for local elections and first-time compulsory votingNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. Two research-based reports on electoral reform appeared almost simultaneously last week. Great for anoraks, but for a local government blog a dilemma. Only one report directly concerns local government, and here, therefore, it properly leads off. But the second is – how to put this – at least methodologically the more interesting and will receive the greater attention.2013-11-22T10:58:00Z2013-11-22T10:27:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/stv-local-elections/POLSIS seminar series podcast: The Eurocrisis and Democratic LegitimacyNathan JohnsonThe Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speakers: Huw Macartney (POLSIS), David Bailey (POLSIS) and Greig Charnock (Manchester).2013-11-21T11:51:00Z2013-11-22T10:36:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/11/eurocrisis.aspxThe Conversation: Hard Evidence: is it possible to forecast HS2's benefits?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Rebecca O'Neill, INLOGOV PhD researcher. The recent publication of the government's strategic case for HS2 has added to mounting concerns about the strength and validity of evidence put forward to support the project. Previously, the business case report written by KPMG stated that the high-speed rail link could benefit the UK by £15 billion a year – a claim made just days before a critical vote in parliament that secured further funding.2013-11-21T09:23:00Z2013-11-25T09:30:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/hard-evidence-is-it-possible-to-forecast-hs2s-benefits-20164Two PhD Studentships Available for CREES StudentsNathan JohnsonThe Centre for Russian and East European Studies invite applications from high-quality applicants for PhD study funded by our ESRC Doctoral Training Centre.2013-11-20T15:12:00Z2013-11-20T14:58:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/11/esrc-phd-scholarships.aspxThe Conversation: Recovery from the Arab Spring will take a generation or moreNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. At a meeting at the Wall Street Journal this week, Martin E Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that the United States' ability to exercise influence in the Middle East had significantly diminished over the course of the Arab Spring. He noted in particular that there are fewer and fewer good options left for dealing with the conflict in Syria.2013-11-20T09:22:00Z2013-11-25T09:22:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/recovery-from-the-arab-spring-will-take-a-generation-or-more-20522ESRC grant success for BirminghamNathan JohnsonWe are delighted to announce that the University of Birmingham has risen to third in the UK with Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) grant success in terms of values of award according to the Times Higher statistics.2013-11-20T07:50:00Z2014-03-11T08:57:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2013/11/esrc-success.aspxBlog: Making 'climate compatible development' possible in coastal areasNathan JohnsonFiona Nunan is Lecturer in Environment and Development in IDD, specialising in natural resource governance and management in developing country settings, particularly within inland fisheries and coastal locations in East and Southern Africa, and in exploring the links between poverty and the environment.2013-11-19T11:15:00Z2013-11-19T11:14:00Zhttp://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/11/19/making-climate-compatible-development-possible-in-coastal-areas/IDD Academic interviewed for Sky News on David Cameron's Sri Lanka tripNathan JohnsonOn Saturday 16 November Dr Danielle Beswick, IDD Lecturer and Director of Research, was interviewed live on Sky News about UK Prime Minister David Cameron's trip to Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). From 2010-12 Danielle undertook British Academy funded research into the politics of identity in post conflict Sri Lanka, delivering a briefing on this for a donor roundtable at the British High Commission in 2011.2013-11-19T10:37:00Z2013-11-19T10:34:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/11/david-camerons-sri-lanka-trip.aspxIAS Blog: Thinking and working politically in development interventions. Workshop round-up from Jonathan FisherNathan JohnsonWritten by Jonathan Fisher. Friday's workshop – and Sam Hickey's keynote which followed it – saw a mammoth amount of discussion, presentation and critical reflection packed in to one day. Podcasts of the 14 – yes 14! – presentations which took place will shortly be available to listen to for those who couldn't attend; keep an eye on #mpolprac for this where you can also follow the discussion courtesy of our live-tweeters from the day.2013-11-18T10:41:00Z2013-11-18T10:29:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2013/11/18/thinking-and-working-politically-in-development-interventions-workshop-round-up-from-jonathan-fisher/IAS Blog: Making politics practicalNathan JohnsonToday's blog is – I am afraid – something of a place-holder. As we speak, academics, policy-makers and practitioners from across the globe are meeting at Birmingham University to discuss how to turn 'thinking politically' into 'working politically'.2013-11-15T15:30:00Z2013-11-15T15:18:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2013/11/15/making-politics-practical/The Conversation: After a slow start, police commissioners hit their strideNathan JohnsonThe "plebgate" saga has once again raised questions about police integrity and dented public trust and confidence in policing more generally. Building such trust was, of course, one of the coalition government's arguments for introducing police and crime commissioners (PCCs). Elections for the first PCCs took place exactly a year ago and despite initial criticisms, they do appear to be making a difference.2013-11-15T09:34:00Z2013-11-25T09:35:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/after-a-slow-start-police-commissioners-hit-their-stride-20277IAS Blog: From "thinking politically" to "working politically"Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Jonathan Fisher. Most people involved in the development enterprise, however, are 'doers' as well as 'thinkers' – far more of my students hope to work for donor agencies, NGOs or charities than within university faculties or think tanks. A key challenge for proponents of the 'thinking politically' agenda, therefore, comes with the 'operationalization' of said agenda.2013-11-14T16:23:00Z2013-11-14T16:08:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2013/11/14/from-thinking-politically-to-working-politically/POLSIS seminar series podcast: Tolstoy's Question: The Ecological Preconditions of Global JusticeNathan JohnsonThe Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) Departmental Seminar. Speaker: Simon Caney (Oxford University); Discussant: Luis Cabrera (POLSIS) co-sponsored by Global Ethics.2013-11-14T15:25:00Z2013-11-14T15:10:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/11/tolstoys-question.aspxIAS Blog: Thinking politically - Part IIINathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Jonathan Fisher. Another way in which 'politics' has often been understood by donor officials has been as a 'problem' – as Laura Routley and David Hulme have recently pointed out (Routley and Hulme 2013: 15-16). The introduction of 'political economy analyses' (see tomorrow's blog) of development programmes and interventions in recent years has – for many donors – simply flagged-up all the obstacles 'politics' poses to the successful implementation of an otherwise well-designed project.2013-11-13T16:20:00Z2013-11-13T16:31:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2013/11/13/thinking-politically-part-iii/The Conversation: Back towards the brink in Iraq as old tensions are renewedNathan JohnsonWritten by Stefan Wolff. Things have not been going well in Iraq for a while. Sectarian violence is on the increase, having reached levels last seen in 2008. As a consequence, the government of Nouri al-Maliki is in dire straits. The same prime minister who negotiated a restrictive status-of-forces agreement with the United States in 2008, now comes begging to Washington for military aid and support.2013-11-13T15:33:00Z2014-03-13T11:00:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/back-towards-the-brink-in-iraq-as-old-tensions-are-renewed-19787Tim Haughton Writes on the Czech Parliamentary Election for the Washington PostNathan JohnsonCREES Director Tim Haughton (POLSIS) co-wrote an analysis of the Czech Elections for the Washington Post's Monkey Cage blog explaining the second electoral earthquake to hit the Czech Republic in three years.2013-11-12T14:12:00Z2013-11-12T13:57:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/11/czech-parliamentary-election-washington-post.aspxIAS Blog: Thinking politically - Part INathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Jonathan Fisher. The 'age of austerity' has not been kind to Western aid agencies and their staff or to those who would defend them. Though Britain's Department for International Development (DFID) has had its budget 'ring-fenced' since 2010 its counterparts elsewhere in Europe have not been so lucky while its equivalent in Australia – AusAID – has disappeared altogether as an independent entity, subsumed into the country's foreign ministry only weeks ago.2013-11-12T11:25:00Z2013-11-12T11:17:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2013/11/11/thinking-politically-part-i-thinking-and-working-politically-in-development-interventions-by-jonathan-fisher/IAS Blog: Thinking politically - Part IINathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Jonathan Fisher. What, however, do we mean by 'political' in the context of development policy and thinking? Almost absent from development discourse prior to the 2000s – as scholar and practitioner Sue Unsworth points out (2009:883) – the word 'politics' has now become an integral part of development language albeit without ever having been clearly defined. Along with terms like 'ownership', 'agency' and even 'development' itself, 'politics' seems to mean something so intuitive and obvious to all that exploring its actual meaning seems like ivory tower navel-gazing to many policy-makers.2013-11-12T11:25:00Z2013-11-13T16:25:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2013/11/12/thinking-politically-part-ii/ESRC PhD ScholarshipsNathan JohnsonThe Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) and the School of Government and Society invite applications from high-quality applicants for PhD study funded by our ESRC Doctoral Training Centre. Interested parties should contact Dr Adam Quinn, a.j.quinn@bham.ac.uk as soon as possible to discuss their application. Formal applications must be submitted to the Department by 6pm on Tuesday December 10 2013 to be considered for ESRC funding.2013-11-07T11:31:00Z2013-11-07T11:47:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/11/esrc-phd-scholarships.aspxThe Conversation: Obama's soft power a hard sell after NSA revelationsNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Adam Quinn. For presidents, like sports team managers, the tough weeks tend to outnumber the jubilant. But even by the standards of an unforgiving job, Barack Obama could be forgiven for feeling unusually buffeted of late. Many of the blows have come on the domestic front, with the all-consuming stand off of the government shutdown segueing into frantic efforts to defend and repair the roll-out of Obamacare amid charges of fatal technological incompetence.2013-11-07T10:11:00Z2014-03-13T11:01:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/obamas-soft-power-a-hard-sell-after-nsa-revelations-19572Blog: The paradoxical nature of being successfulNathan JohnsonWritten by Ian Briggs. The world of social science can be an odd place at times. Much is quite rightly being made of the impact of severe reductions in public spending, but when social scientists look at the levels of satisfaction with public services, many see the general quality of services remaining high.2013-11-06T11:25:00Z2013-11-06T11:16:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/11/06/paradoxical-success/Building trust in public policing? The contribution of Police and Crime Commissioners, one year onNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor John Raine. The 'Plebgate' saga, which has now drawn apologies to Andrew Mitchell from three chief constables, has once again raised questions about police integrity and dented public trust and confidence in policing more generally.2013-11-05T10:16:00Z2013-11-05T10:10:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/10/building-public-trust-in-policing-the-contribution-of-police-and-crime-commissioners-one-year-on.aspxBlog: Delivery of public services and economies of scale: Cooperation as an alternative for small municipalitiesNathan JohnsonWritten by Germà Bel. The economic crisis has strongly affected many developed countries, and has caused serious tensions in government finances. These constraints are particularly important at the local level, because local governments have limited taxing bases, and fiscal competition is stronger. Policy discussion on local government reform and local cost reductions, as well as increasing efficiency in local service delivery, is widespread.2013-11-05T10:16:00Z2013-11-05T10:06:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/delivery-of-public-services-and-economies-of-scale-cooperation-as-an-alternative-for-small-municipalities/Blog: Want a 50% turnout in a local election? Try Neighbourhood PlanningNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. Yes, there were other news stories last weekend – Grangemouth, St Jude, Plodgate, Merkel's mobile, Lady Gaga's new album. Still, a more than 50% turnout in something local governmenty surely merited some kind of headline.2013-11-01T18:12:00Z2013-11-06T11:14:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/11/01/neighbourhood-planning/POLSIS seminar series podcast: Brazil in the global nuclear orderNathan JohnsonA discussion on Brazil and nuclear weapons within a wider discussion of nuclear cooperation and trust building. Speaker: Matias Spektor (King's College London); Discussant: Nick Wheeler (POLSIS); Chair: Marco Vieira (POLSIS).2013-10-31T14:56:00Z2013-11-01T09:26:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/10/brazil-global-nuclear-order.aspxDevelopmental Leadership: Does Leadership Really Matter for Development?Nathan JohnsonOn 21 October 2013 the UNDP Global Centre for Public Service Excellence hosted academics and top officials for a rich exchange of views and experience with the Developmental Leadership Program (DLP) – one of the world's leading research programmes looking into governance challenges in international development.2013-10-28T15:23:00Z2013-10-28T14:38:00Zhttp://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/capacitybuilding/publicservice/convening-hub/DLPevent.htmlIDD Guest seminar podcast: Revisiting the Inequality and Conflict NexusNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Professor Mansoob Murshed, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University of Rotterdam and Coventry University. The International Development Department hosts a number of seminars throughout the autumn term which focuses on a number of different topics. The seminars are open to everyone.2013-10-25T14:17:00Z2014-03-11T09:49:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/10/revisiting-inequality-conflict-nexus.aspxWhat has worked in foreign aid to service delivery in fragile situations?Nathan JohnsonGSDRC researcher Claire Mcloughlin has taken part in a high-profile debate about the challenges and trade-offs development agencies encounter when trying to support service delivery in fragile and conflict-affected states.2013-10-24T16:03:00Z2013-10-24T15:44:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/10/foreign-aid-service-delivery-fragile-situations.aspxThe Conversation: Electoral deadlock means no end to Republican extremismNathan JohnsonAfter 16 days of anxiety, grandstanding and acrimonious finger-pointing, the experiment in American democracy that was the government shutdown has been run, and for the Republicans, the results were devastating.2013-10-21T16:15:00Z2013-10-21T16:00:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/electoral-deadlock-means-no-end-to-republican-extremism-19313Blog: Planning and the new (new) localism - what chance of success?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Nancy Holman. Planning in a time of austerity is never easy – budgets are cut, needs are great and regulation can be seen as stifling growth. In England we are in just such a position and in the midst of a reformulation of planning that is on the one hand meant to deliver growth and on the other designed to empower communities. Most of these reforms are being couched in the language of localism with community participation at the forefront of policy.2013-10-21T14:33:00Z2013-10-21T14:11:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/planning-localism/The true impact of migration for the UKNathan JohnsonAs immigration tops the news agenda yet again, three University of Birmingham academics examine the real issues behind the headlines and the true impact of migration for the UK.2013-10-21T11:16:00Z2013-10-21T10:56:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/immigration.aspxTesting the Diplomatic Path with Iran in GenevaNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler. "Speaking before the UN General Assembly on 24 September, US president Barack Obama said that he was 'encouraged' that Iran's new president Hassan Rouhani was charting a course that could lead to a 'meaningful agreement' on the nuclear issue. But Obama cautioned that 'conciliatory words will have to be matched by actions that are transparent and verifiable.'"2013-10-21T11:16:00Z2013-10-21T11:10:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/iran-diplomacy-wheeler.aspxIDD Guest seminar podcast: Addressing Tough Challenges in State-building One Step at a TimeNathan JohnsonSpeaker: Anne-Marie Brinkman, Independent Consultant, former advisor to UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Nairobi. The International Development Department hosts a number of seminars throughout the autumn term which focuses on a number of different topics. The seminars are open to everyone.2013-10-18T15:55:00Z2014-03-11T09:44:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/10/addressing-tough-challenges-state-building.aspxBlog: Could a lack of trust between professionals undermine health and social care integration?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Catherin Mangan. The latest guidance on the health and social care integration transformation fund emphasises the need for 'genuine commitment to partnership and recognition of the challenges' to ensure success. We all know that successful integration will rely on genuine, positive relationships between health and social care professionals in the system. But are we taking these positive relationships for granted?2013-10-16T11:02:00Z2013-10-16T10:55:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/trust-health-social-care/IAS Saving Humans Blog: Most popular?Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Rita Floyd. The Nobel Peace Prize's official website includes a list of the most popular Peace laureates of all time. It does not mention how popularity is measured. And indeed many of the entries in the top ten do not beg that question. Martin Luther King Jr. leads the list. He was awarded the Prize in 1964 for his legendary struggle against racism and for equality and human rights. Jane Addams is number two. Less well known than Mr King she founded the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom in 1919, and worked for many years to get the great powers to disarm and conclude peace agreements.2013-10-15T11:32:00Z2013-10-16T11:02:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2013/10/15/most-popular/Blog: Fast scholarship is not always good scholarship: relevant research requires more than an online presence.Nathan JohnsonWritten by Catherine Durose and Katherine Tonkiss. Blogging and social media are tools to facilitate engagement, but are they in danger of being treated as ends in themselves? Catherine Durose and Katherine Tonkiss argue for more awareness on how the research process can democratise knowledge. Rather than quickly responding to recent events, scholars should look towards sustained engagement with the participants of research and those affected by it.2013-10-15T11:31:00Z2013-10-15T10:24:00Zhttp://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2013/10/11/fast-scholarship-is-not-always-good-scholarship/The Conversation: Trust crucial in high-stakes nuclear talks with IranNathan JohnsonWritten by Nicholas J. Wheeler. Talks begin in Geneva on Tuesday to discuss with Iran the thorny issue of its nuclear program, an area that has previously proved to be a stumbling block in normalising relations between the Islamic Republic and the West. But this time Iran has a new president – the moderate Hassan Rouhani – and hopes for progress towards a deal are high.2013-10-15T11:31:00Z2014-03-13T11:50:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/trust-crucial-in-high-stakes-nuclear-talks-with-iran-19170Podcast: The EDL, Tommy Robinson and the British Far RightNathan JohnsonThe Politics @ Birmingham Podcast: Episode 03. On this week's podcast we talk about the shock resignation of Tommy Robinson as leader of anti-Islam protest group the English Defence League, and whether he or the movement now have a political future. We also discuss the fortunes and prospects of the British far right more generally, as well as those who seek to thwart it.2013-10-15T09:20:00Z2013-11-22T11:10:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/10/edl-podcast-03.aspxBlog: It's been 30 years coming, but Clause 38 is still really bad newsNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. Sometimes you hear "All things", but the ancient proverb and the modern Guinness advert agree that it's "Good things come to those who wait". Unfortunately, bad things do as well, and for local government Clause 38 of the Local Audit and Accountability Bill is a bad thing that's been waiting to happen for 30 years and now finally has.2013-10-14T10:14:00Z2013-10-14T10:12:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/clause-38/The Conversation: Progress on Syrian WMDs but real test for UN lies aheadNathan JohnsonWritten by Nicholas J. Wheeler. The Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has announced it is sending a second team of weapons inspectors to Syria where, director-general Ahmet Üzümcü reports, destruction of al-Assad's chemical stockpile has commenced with the co-operation of regime officials in what he describes as a "constructive beginning".2013-10-11T17:14:00Z2014-03-13T11:50:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/progress-on-syrian-wmds-but-real-test-for-un-lies-ahead-18966The Conversation: Morsi indictment shows failure of transitional justice in EgyptNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. Transitional justice, a common feature of most regime changes whether they are the result of a civil war or a revolution, has been practised in different ways in the course of the Arab Spring. In Tunisia, we have seen the indictment and sentencing in absentia of exiled ex-president Ben Ali; in Libya, the lynching of dictator Muammar Gaddafi and the on-going uncertainty over the trial of his son, Saif and in Yemen, the quasi-blanket amnesty for ex-President Ali Abduallah Saleh.2013-10-11T17:11:00Z2014-03-13T11:47:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/morsi-indictment-shows-failure-of-transitional-justice-in-egypt-19120Video: Saving Humans: Risk, Intervention, SurvivalNathan Johnson'Saving Humans' is an innovative and timely theme which consolidates existing University research agendas, provides opportunities for creating novel and exciting partnerships, transcends divides between arts, social sciences and natural sciences and, most importantly, addresses broader issues of social, political and moral concern for humanity's future.2013-10-11T14:35:00Z2014-03-11T08:58:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/ias/saving-humans/index.aspxBlog: Leading a Council: insights from WarwickshireNathan JohnsonWritten by Izzi Seccombe. "May 2nd 2013 was a greatly significant day. Not only was I appointed leader of Warwickshire County Council, but, as the first female leader, I felt incredibly proud and honoured to be steering our county borough into the future."2013-10-11T09:45:00Z2013-10-11T09:32:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/leading-a-council/Blog: Closing the loop: bridging the gap between provision and implementation of feedbackNathan Johnson'Closing the loop: bridging the gap between provision and implementation of feedback' is a project funded by a Higher Education Academy collaborative Teaching Development Grant. Running from June 2013 through December 2014, it brings together four researchers – Dr Helen Williams, Dr Bettina Renz, Dr Nicola Smith and Dr Hardeep Basra – in the politics departments at the University of Nottingham and the University of Birmingham.2013-10-09T08:57:00Z2013-10-09T08:50:00Zhttp://polsis.org/2013/10/08/closing-the-loop-bridging-the-gap-between-provision-and-implementation-of-feedback/Blog: Relational leadership, group dynamics and personal identity.Nathan JohnsonWritten by Kim Ryley. Kim Ryley is a recent Past President of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and a Trustee of the Leadership Centre. He has 14 years experience as a Chief Executive in four upper tier local authorities. Kim is currently a freelance Leadership Development Consultant and Director of Torque Leadership Associates Ltd.2013-10-08T10:16:00Z2013-10-08T10:05:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/08/relational-leadership/Seminar Debates Summer 2011Information on Seminar Debates Summer 20112013-10-08T07:45:00Z2013-10-08T07:34:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/igs/news-events/zeitgeist-seminar-series-summer-2011.pdfThe Conversation: Black Hawk Down returns: how local conflicts become regionalNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. Twenty years ago, on 3 and 4 October 1993, the so-called Battle of Mogadishu, also referred to as Black Hawk Down, raged in the Somali capital. Two decades on, this region of East Africa still suffers from the instability anchored by the collapsed Somalian state, and the inability of local and international actors to deal with it effectively.2013-10-07T15:31:00Z2014-03-13T11:04:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/black-hawk-down-returns-how-local-conflicts-become-regional-18850Blog: Keeping the door open to new ideas on leadership: Why the public sector may be leading the wayNathan JohnsonWritten by Ian Briggs. In 1981, Ralf Stogdill published with Bernie Bass a taxonomy of leadership research. To scholars of leadership this Magnus opus has performed two vital functions: firstly, it has been invaluable in keeping open cathedral doors in a gale; and secondly as a work of undoubted scholarly value that it is has served to demonstrate how often confused and misplaced a great deal of leadership research in the past has been.2013-10-07T10:32:00Z2013-10-07T10:29:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/keeping-the-door-open/Blog: Following the UN route on SyriaNathan JohnsonWritten by Nicholas J. Wheeler. After two years of paralysis in the face of the growing humanitarian catastrophe engulfing Syria, the UN Security Council finally took centre-stage last Friday. Resolution 2118 that was adopted unanimously on 27 September at ministerial level broke new ground in the Council's history. For the first time, the fifteen-member body agreed 'that the use of chemical weapons anywhere constitutes a threat to international peace and security.' The significance of this language is that as the body responsible for maintaining 'international peace and security', such a determination is a prior condition for the Council activating the use of coercive enforcement measures under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.2013-10-04T10:36:00Z2013-10-04T10:32:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2013/10/02/professor-nicholas-j-wheeler-following-the-un-route-on-syria/Blog: George Osborne's budget surplus: paid for by local governmentNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. In his party conference speech on Monday, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced that a Conservative Government would seek, by the end of the 2015-20 Parliament, to have eliminated completely the roughly £120 billion national deficit and be running a budget surplus.2013-10-04T10:35:00Z2013-10-04T10:24:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/04/budget-surplus/Blog: It's all about the governance - and elections don't always solve anythingNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Paul Jackson. In early 2012 a group of Salafi-Jihadi militant groups took control of northern Mali's major population centres prompting a French-led international intervention that incorporated the African Union and other regional militaries. On January 11th 2013, French forces started a successful offensive that stopped Mali's complete collapse, allowing sufficient leeway to hold elections in July 2013 during which democracy was held to be the victor with many people openly defying threats of violence to cast their votes. Largely forgotten in the wake of the horrors of Islamic terrorism in Kenya and the continuing conflagration in Syria, could Mali offer a model of successful intervention in conflict?2013-10-04T10:35:00Z2013-10-04T10:29:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2013/10/03/its-all-about-the-governance-and-elections-dont-always-solve-anything-2/Blog: A new response to the 'jaws of doom'Nathan JohnsonCatherine Staite responds to Local Government Chronicle's anonymous 'Insider' columnist about the 'jaws of doom' and INLOGOV's New Model of Public Services.2013-10-03T13:27:00Z2013-10-03T12:03:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/a-new-response-to-the-jaws-of-doom/Blog: Caught in the crossfire: local authority outsourcing and the murky world of employment lawNathan JohnsonWritten by Ian Briggs. Given the extent of legislation affecting officers and members in local government, it can be rather misleading to see the influence of Westminster solely through the lens of direct local government legislation. Wider legislation on employment has arguably had as big an impact on the way that local government and local government services are delivered.2013-10-03T13:27:00Z2013-10-03T12:05:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/employment-law/The Conversation: Boehner risks his reputation in Obamacare shutdownNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Adam Quinn. Republican Speaker John Boehner faced a choice between two unappetising gambles on Monday night. One option was to cut a deal with Democrats to continue federal government spending at present levels, and in so doing trigger a revolt from the radical wing of his own party that might end his speakership. The other was to dig in, precipitate a partial shut-down of the government, and risk the public assigning the blame to congressional Republicans.2013-10-03T13:27:00Z2013-10-03T12:09:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/boehner-risks-his-reputation-in-obamacare-shutdown-18801Blog: The unintended consequences of foreign interventionNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Paul Jackson. After the horrors of the Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, there will be inevitable questions about the nature of Islamic terrorism in East Africa. However, the attack itself is part of an on-going conflict in Kenya that in turn is part of a bigger regional conflagration based on Somalia. In fact the attack on the mall can be traced back to an international intervention that produced a number of unintended consequences, one of which has been the transformation of the group that perpetrated the attack, Al-Shabaab.2013-10-01T18:36:00Z2013-10-04T10:36:00Zhttp://savinghumans.org/2013/10/01/professor-paul-jackson-the-unintended-consequences-of-foreign-intervention/Blog: The Butler 1944 Education Act: both milestone and millstoneNathan JohnsonA 'Legislative game-changer' was what we were asked for. Or was it 'Legislative Game-changer'? No matter; this one was both. It's exactly a half-century since the summer of '63: Profumo and Keeler, Philby, the Great Train Robbery, the Beatles, Sindy dolls, and my leaving the boys' grammar school, to which I'd 'won' a place seven years earlier by passing the compulsory 11-plus exam, and going to university. Statement of fact, but also declaration of interest.2013-10-01T10:01:00Z2014-03-11T12:15:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/education-act/Podcast: The German election edition: Merkel wins big – why, and what now?Nathan JohnsonThe Politics @ Birmingham Podcast: Episode 02. On this week's podcast we talk about the results of Germany's national election, which took place on Sunday Sep 22. Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats emerged victorious with an increased share of the vote, but she still needs partners to form a governing coalition after her Free Democrat partners fell below the 5% threshold required for representation. We discuss the reasons for Merkel's victory, the state of politics in Germany, and the consequences of the result for the rest of Europe.2013-09-26T18:09:00Z2013-11-22T11:11:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/09/german-elections-podcast-02.aspxBlog: The Housing Acts of 1980: a watershed in housing policyNathan JohnsonAlan Murie and Chris Watson are former Directors of the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies at the University of Birmingham. Alan Murie is Emeritus Professor of Urban and Regional Studies and Chris Watson is Honorary Senior Lecturer. Both are members of the Housing and Communities Research Network in the University's School of Social Policy.2013-09-25T11:41:00Z2013-09-25T11:14:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/25/the-housing-acts-of-1980-a-watershed-in-housing-policy/Blog: Empire without End?Nathan JohnsonAdrian Campbell is a senior lecturer at the University of Birmingham's International Development Department. He is an organizational theorist with longstanding interests and experience in the associated fields of leadership and human resource management and he has researched, taught and consulted in these fields for over thirty years.2013-09-24T18:29:00Z2013-09-24T15:33:00Zhttp://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/empire-without-end/The Conversation: Prepare for more drones, and less all-out warNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. Much of the current debate about drones (or unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs) is about whether their deployment to countries such as Pakistan and Yemen is legal or ethical. This debate is predominantly focused on armed drones and their use to carry out targeted and signature strikes against known or suspected terrorists and insurgents.2013-09-23T14:47:00Z2013-09-23T14:32:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/prepare-for-more-drones-and-less-all-out-war-18380The Conversation: Odds on Merkel to head grand coalition in German electionNathan JohnsonBy Isabelle Hertner. Germans go to the polls this weekend to elect a new four-year parliament – the Bundestag. Barring something extraordinary a coalition headed by Angela Merkel will be returned.2013-09-23T14:46:00Z2013-09-23T14:27:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-birminghamBlog: The Health Act 2006: Behaviour change in action?Nathan JohnsonBy Catherine Staite. The Health Act 2006 is a very dull title for an Act of Parliament which has had such a profound and universally beneficial impact on all our lives. It enacted the ban on smoking in enclosed places to which the public have access.2013-09-23T09:39:00Z2013-09-23T09:33:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/the-health-act-2006/The ethics of warfare part 3: How does drone warfare change the debate?Nathan JohnsonProfessor Stefan Wolff: "Much of the current debate about drones (or unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs) is about whether their deployment to countries like Pakistan and Yemen is legal or ethical. This debate is predominantly focused on armed drones and their use to carry out targeted and signature strikes against known or suspected terrorists and insurgents."2013-09-23T08:55:00Z2013-09-23T09:20:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/drones.aspxDoctoral researcher profile: Sabarinath KrishnanNathan JohnsonPublic Private Partnerships for rural development2013-09-21T05:01:00Z2013-09-20T15:56:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/doctoral-researchers/profiles/krishnan-sabarinath.aspxBlog: Who'll work with the Lib Dems?Nathan JohnsonBy Chris Game. One of the few perks of my first paid research job was visiting the major party conferences. This was in the early 1970s, when policies were genuinely debated, votes were taken and mattered, and leaders' speeches didn't have to be delivered without visible notes.2013-09-20T10:45:00Z2013-09-20T10:30:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/20/wholl-work-with-the-lib-dems/The security impact of drones: challenges and opportunities for the UKNathan JohnsonWhen President George W. Bush handed over the reins of US foreign policy to Barack Obama, he reportedly made two requests. First, that the incoming US president maintains the covert cyber attacks against Iran, and secondly, that he continues the counter-terrorist drone campaigns in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Not only did Obama follow through on this request, but during his time in office US drone strikes have more than doubled.2013-09-20T10:24:00Z2013-09-20T10:09:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/09/The-security-impact-of-drones-challenges-and-opportunities-for-the-UK.aspxPodcast: Syria on the precipice, Obama in crisis, Britain in search of a role (again)Nathan JohnsonThe Politics @ Birmingham Podcast: Episode 01. On this week's podcast we talk about Barack Obama's erratic handling of the Syria crisis, the legal and political questions surrounding international intervention in the civil war there, and the consequences for Britain's world role of parliament's vote against participation in any military strikes.2013-09-16T10:51:00Z2013-11-22T11:11:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/09/syria-politics-podcast-01.aspxAlexei Navalny and the battle for MoscowNathan JohnsonAhead of Moscow's mayoral elections, Dr David White discusses the prospects of candidate Alexei Navalny, the only serious contender to challenge the pro-Putin incumbent, Sergei Sobyanin. Portrayed glowingly in the Western media, and with his sights set on the presidential elections of 2018, he divides opinion among Russia's disparate and fragmented opposition.2013-09-13T15:41:00Z2013-09-13T15:41:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/russian-mayoral-election.aspxThe Conversation: Syria and the wider crisis of international diplomacyNathan JohnsonWritten by Professor Stefan Wolff. Two weeks ago airstrikes against the Syrian regime in retaliation to its assumed use of chemical weapons seemed a foregone conclusion, despite Russian and Chinese resistance. US-led Western resolve, albeit against a groundswell of public opinion and rather underwhelming backing from major allies, appeared unstoppable.2013-09-13T10:48:00Z2014-01-14T10:41:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/syria-and-the-wider-crisis-of-international-diplomacy-18133New Publication on the EU co-edited by Birmingham academic with keynote by Russian Foreign MinisterNathan JohnsonThe JCMS Annual Review of the European Union in 2012 co-edited by Dr Tim Haughton (CREES/POLSIS) has just been published and includes an article on Russia-EU relations by Sergey Lavrov.2013-09-12T08:25:00Z2013-09-12T08:23:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/09/new-publication-eu.aspxBlog: The role of social value outcomes in commissioning servicesNathan JohnsonWilliam Jabang is a Doctoral Researcher at INLOGOV. His PhD research is focused on commissioning and procuring social value.2013-09-10T15:48:00Z2014-03-11T12:16:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/10/social-value-commissioning/Blog: Bankruptcies, scofflaws and aldermen: differentiated by a common languageNathan JohnsonWritten by Chris Game. It must have happened to you. You come across a word for, as far as you're aware, the first time in your life, you learn its meaning, and then read or hear it again in a quite different context just a few days later.2013-09-09T17:39:00Z2013-09-09T14:37:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/09/09/bankruptcies-scofflaws-aldermen/The Conversation: Obama v Putin as G20 meets in Syria's shadowNathan JohnsonBy Dr Adam Quinn. The G20 begins today and whether this is the best or the worst of times depends on how important one considers Syria to be. Because the manoeuvring and diplomacy surrounding the increasingly vicious civil war – and the prospect of international intervention – is likely to consume a good deal of the oxygen in the environs of St Petersburg.2013-09-05T11:56:00Z2013-09-05T11:44:00Zhttps://theconversation.com/obama-v-putin-as-g20-meets-in-syrias-shadow-17866Military Intervention in Syria: the worst or just one among many bad options?Nathan Johnson"As Western rhetoric and resolve to 'do something' over the use of chemical weapons last week in Syria harden, one of the increasingly dominant logics is that with all other means exhausted, a military intervention of some sort is the last resort."2013-08-30T15:23:00Z2013-09-03T10:24:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/syria-military.aspxCREES scholars discuss Eurasian Integration at a high-profile seminar at Chatham House in LondonNathan JohnsonCREES experts presented their research on Eurasian economic integration at a policy-oriented seminar organised under the auspices of Chatham House in London.2013-08-29T18:15:00Z2013-09-03T10:08:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/08/crees-scholars-discuss-eurasian-integration.aspxResearch on Accountability, Local Government and Public Finance in BrazilNathan JohnsonIDD will receive the following Brazilian visitors from 01 September for 10 days: Professors André Busanelli de Aquino, Vinicius Aversari Martins and EugênioSilva Bitti of the University of São Paulo, and Professor Ricardo Lagos of the Fundação Getulio Vargas (São Paulo)2013-08-23T11:10:00Z2013-08-23T11:02:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/08/research-accountability-brazil.aspxThe Conversation: Syria casts its shadow as G8 leaders gatherNathan JohnsonPresident Obama's confirmation that the United States would begin arming Syrian rebels has prompted an urgent debate about both the legality and the effectiveness of the decision. The announcement, ahead of the G8 leader's summit in Northern Ireland that starts today, closely followed a joint statement by the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and the UK foreign secretary, William Hague, that their priority remains to see a diplomatic process "that succeeds in reaching a negotiated end to the conflict".2013-08-17T17:21:00Z2013-08-08T10:22:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/syria-casts-its-shadow-as-g8-leaders-gather-15218CREES involved in EU-funded staff exchange schemeNathan JohnsonCREES staff are to participate in a Marie Curie Action International Research Staff Exchange scheme (IRSES) entitled 'EUinDepth— European Identity, Cultural Diversity and Political Change'.2013-08-12T10:00:00Z2013-08-12T09:51:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/08/eu-funded-staff-exchange-scheme.aspxThe Conversation UKNathan JohnsonThe Conversation is an independent source of news and views, sourced from the academic and research community and delivered direct to the public. Academics from all over the world contribute to discussion on The Conversation, including those here in the School of Government and Society.2013-08-09T16:34:00Z2014-03-11T08:59:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/the-conversation.aspxOrchestrating the possible for integrated careNathan JohnsonNew report entitled 'Health and Wellbeing Boards: Orchestrating the possible for integrated care' has been published.2013-07-29T17:33:00Z2014-03-11T12:09:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/health-services-management-centre/news/2013/06/orchestrating-the-possible-for-integrated-care.aspxBlog: Picturing place: citizen participation in the age of social mediaNathan JohnsonKatherine Tonkiss is a Research Fellow at INLOGOV. She is currently working on a three year, ESRC funded project titled Shrinking the State, and is converting her PhD thesis, on the subject of migration and identity, into a book to be published later this year with Palgrave Macmillan.2013-07-24T14:26:00Z2013-07-24T14:24:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/picturing-place-2/Blog: The 'Detroit question' and Parish CouncilsNathan JohnsonIan Briggs is a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Local Government Studies. He has research interests in the development and assessment of leadership, performance coaching, organisational development and change, and the establishment of shared service provision.2013-07-23T09:47:00Z2013-07-23T09:44:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/23/detroit-question/Blog: Reflecting on the doctoral take-overNathan JohnsonOver the last ten days the INLOGOV blog has reflected some of the great talent we currently have within our PhD cohort. INLOGOV has 28 students, a quarter of which are part time and working in public service. We like to think this gives a distinct flavour to our programme. The blog over recent days profiled some of the great work among current students and reflections from previous INLOGOV graduates of our doctoral programme.2013-07-19T14:58:00Z2013-07-19T14:49:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/doctoral-take-over/The Conversation: EU ban on Israeli settlements could be a game changerNathan JohnsonAsaf Siniver, Senior Lecturer in International Security at University of Birmingham recently wrote and article for The Conversation: "EU ban on Israeli settlements could be a game changer". After years of declarations, warnings and internal bickering, the European Union has finally done it. On Friday, Brussels is expected to announce that future agreements between the EU (or any of its member states) and Israel will include a clause which explicitly excludes the funding of and co-operation with Israeli institutions that operate in territory seized by Israel in the Six Day War of 1967.2013-07-19T09:28:00Z2013-07-19T09:29:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/eu-ban-on-israeli-settlements-could-be-a-game-changer-16158CREES celebrates its 50th anniversary at the Annual Conference in Windsor Great ParkNathan JohnsonThe Centre for Russian and East European Studies (CREES) is 50 years old this year. To mark the occasion the department held an expanded annual conference at Cumberland Lodge.2013-07-18T14:49:00Z2014-10-14T16:23:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/07/50th-anniversary-annual-conference.aspxThe Conversation: Little cause for celebration on South Sudan's birthdayNathan JohnsonStefan Wolff, Professor of International Security at University of Birmingham recently wrote and article for The Conversation: "Little cause for celebration on South Sudan's birthday". The second anniversary of South Sudan's independence is overshadowed by the release of the annual State Failure Index by the Fund for Peace, which ranks the country as the world's fourth most failed state. It is a sobering balance sheet after two years for a state born of two civil wars and a "comprehensive peace agreement" that was all but comprehensive.2013-07-17T12:16:00Z2013-07-19T09:33:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/little-cause-for-celebration-on-south-sudans-birthday-15783Blog: Why you should be academic blogging as a PhD studentNathan JohnsonPete Redford is a former Parliamentary researcher currently undertaking his PhD researching the 'underclass' at the University of Birmingham. He holds a BA (Hons) British Politics and Legislative Studies and MA Global Political Economy from the University of Hull.2013-07-16T09:08:00Z2013-07-16T08:59:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/blogging-phd-student/The Birmingham PerspectiveNathan JohnsonRead the latest perspectives from our academics across the School of Government and Society. Including debates, pespectives and research diaries.2013-07-15T12:19:00Z2014-03-11T09:00:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/perspective.aspxInternational Collaboration mapNathan JohnsonThe College of Social Sciences is proud of its extensive links with universities and other strategic partners throughout the world. Through our network of global partnerships, we engage in a wide range of activities including staff and student exchange and collaboration in research and teaching.2013-07-15T09:30:00Z2014-03-11T09:05:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/collaboration/index.aspxWho is accountable in localism?Nathan JohnsonThe drive for localism seeks to open up decision-making to citizens with the aim of developing local public services better informed by the priorities and needs of communities and empowering them to contribute to achievable solutions and improved outcomes. But this ambition raises some real questions for accountability: who should be taking decisions and for what, and how and to whom are they accountable? These conversations are taking place in council chambers, wards and neighbourhoods across the country and are not easily resolved, with councillors, officers, community organisations and local people often taking strongly-felt but different views. In a policy review funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council's Connected Communities programme, Liz Richardson (University of Manchester) and Catherine Durose (University of Birmingham) address these challenges and provide tools for reflection and debate. For more information please contact Catherine Durose, c.durose@bham.ac.uk2013-07-12T13:57:00Z2013-07-29T10:42:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/who-is-accountable-localism.pdfTransforming local public services through co-productionNathan JohnsonThe fiscal crisis together with demographic change has prompted demands for radical new approaches to designing and delivering local public services. Co-production is one response that has seemed to capture the imagination of policy-makers, politicians and practitioners. This policy review, commissioned by the AHRC's Connected Communities programme and conducted by a research team from the University of Birmingham, explores the tensions in thinking about co-production as a response to austerity and consider when, where and how citizens and professionals can work together to deliver transformation in local public services. For more information please contact Catherine Durose, c.durose@bham.ac.uk2013-07-12T13:57:00Z2013-07-29T10:42:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/transforming-local-public-services-co-production.pdfBlog: The impact factorNathan JohnsonKatherine Tonkiss completed her PhD in 2012, and is now a Research Fellow at INLOGOV. Her first book, Migration and Identity in a Post-national World, will be published later this year with Palgrave Macmillan. Her research interests are focused on the changing nature of migration, citizenship and democracy in a globalising world, the local experience of such transformations, and the intersection between normative and empirical research.2013-07-12T09:22:00Z2013-07-12T09:35:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/the-impact-factor/Quango state reconfigured rather than abolishedNathan JohnsonLess than 10 per cent of quangos axed by the Coalition government have actually been totally abolished, new research shows.2013-07-11T12:20:00Z2013-07-11T12:16:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2013/07/11-Jul-13-Quango-state-reconfigured-rather-than-abolished.aspxThe Conversation: Morsi's authority ebbed away, but Egypt is dangerously dividedNathan JohnsonDr Michelle Pace, Reader in Politics and International Studies at POLSIS recently wrote and article for The Conversation: "Egypt is split" is how many Egyptians describe the current crisis rippling through the country. Before Wednesday night's apparent military coup, journalists had reported on pro and anti-Morsi demonstrations, the battle between liberal secularists and Islamists (symbolised by Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood) and the fight between secularism and religion.2013-07-10T09:25:00Z2013-07-10T16:40:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/morsis-authority-ebbed-away-but-egypt-is-dangerously-divided-15774Blog: All in this together? Can citizens help transform public outcomes through co-production?Nathan JohnsonElke Loeffler is CEO of Governance International. Tony Bovaird is Professor of Public Management and Policy at INLOGOV. He worked in the UK Civil Service and several universities before moving to the University of Birmingham in 2006. He recently led the UK contribution to an EU project on user and community co-production of public services in five European countries, and is currently directing a project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council on using 'nudge' techniques to influence individual service co-producers to participate in community co-production.2013-07-08T17:03:00Z2013-07-12T11:21:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/coproduction/Success at Edgbaston hits the wickets at Westminster: Why efforts to increase the number of women MPs seems to have been stumped.Nathan JohnsonEdgbaston, best known for cricket, is politically interesting for two reasons – it was once the seat of the then Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, and this week, it is celebrating the fact it is the only UK constituency to have returned a female MP to Parliament for 60 consecutive years.2013-07-08T09:46:00Z2013-07-08T09:50:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/07/Success-at-Edgbaston-hits-the-wickets-at-Westminster-Why-efforts-to-increase-the-number-of-women-MPs-seems-to-have-been-stumped.aspxBlog: Why do we need a new model of public services?Nathan JohnsonThis blog post summarises some of the key messages in: Why do we need a new model for public services? By Catherine Staite. Ch. 1 in Staite, C. (ed.)(2013). Making sense of the future: can we develop a new model for public services? (Birmingham: University of Birmingham/INLOGOV). Catherine Staite is the Director of INLOGOV.2013-07-05T19:28:00Z2013-07-12T09:28:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/staite/Investing in future leadersNathan JohnsonThis article was published in the MJ (Municipal Journal) for the LGA Conference 2013. Ensuring that your workforce meets the needs of the organisation and your residents in changing times is a significant challenge for any Council, as is ensuring that current and potential managers continue to develop their skills and knowledge and that organisational talent is identified and nurtured.2013-07-05T15:23:00Z2013-07-11T08:54:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/news-events/mj-article-investing-future-leaders.pdfThe Conversation: Egypt: where turmoil comes with the constitutionNathan JohnsonStefan Wolff, Professor of International Security at University of Birmingham recently wrote and article for The Conversation: "Egypt: where turmoil comes with the constitution". The military coup in Egypt that ended the reign of the country's first democratically elected president was, in part, triggered by increasingly large protests of Egyptians who were deeply dissatisfied with the policies of the president, Mohamed Morsi.2013-07-05T15:18:00Z2013-07-19T09:30:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/egypt-where-turmoil-comes-with-the-constitution-15816INLOGOV and HSMC jointly evaluate the Home Truths ProjectNathan JohnsonThe Home Truths project is a joint health and council initiative exploring different approaches to improving relationships between adult social care and GPs.2013-07-05T12:02:00Z2014-03-11T12:30:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/health-services-management-centre/news/2013/07/inlogov-and-hsmc-evaluate-home-truths-project.aspxWeary Lebanon licked by the flames engulfing SyriaNathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Christalla Yakinthou. The fighting that has engulfed the Lebanese city of Sidon over the past week, leaving at least 15 soldiers dead and more than 70 injured, has raised tension across the country. The clashes come on the back of growing sporadic violence in Lebanon; each incident cracking the veneer of its separation from the civil war in Syria.2013-07-02T10:48:00Z2015-01-30T10:49:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/weary-lebanon-licked-by-the-flames-engulfing-syria-15530Blog: A relational revolution in local public servicesNathan JohnsonThis blog draws on ideas in Chapter 2 of a new book 'Making Sense of the Future'. Chris Lawrence Pietroni joined INLOGOV as an Associate in September 2012. His work focuses on achieving sustainable systems change cross public services in the UK and the US.2013-07-01T17:38:00Z2013-07-12T11:24:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/relational-revolution/Blog: The role of the third sector in delivering public services: what we know and what we'd like to knowNathan JohnsonJames Rees is a Research Fellow at the Third Sector Research Centre at the University of Birmingham. His recent research concentrates on transformations in UK public services including the role of the third sector, but his longer term interests have been in the governance of urban and regional governance, with a particular focus on the politics of city-regionalism; critical perspectives on urban housing market restructuring and housing policy; and more broadly on issues in urban regeneration, neighbourhoods and community.2013-07-01T17:30:00Z2013-07-12T11:30:00Zhttp://inlogov.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/third-sector-public-services/Latest research: Saving Humans: Risk, Intervention, SurvivalNathan Johnson'Saving Humans' is an innovative and timely theme which consolidates existing University research agendas, provides opportunities for creating novel and exciting partnerships, transcends divides between arts, social sciences and natural sciences and, most importantly, addresses broader issues of social, political and moral concern for humanity's future.2013-07-01T13:55:00Z2014-03-11T09:02:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/ias/saving-humans/index.aspxWeighing up the real value of the G8 summitNathan JohnsonIt is easy to be cynical over the value of summits such as the G8 meeting recently concluded in Northern Ireland. After all, this year's meeting was preceded by the erection of fake shop fronts in Northern Ireland to disguise empty businesses, and when Birmingham played host in 1998 the city council sprayed the grass verges green.2013-06-26T11:27:00Z2013-06-26T11:18:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/06/g8-summit-2013.aspxDefence and Security in an Independent ScotlandNathan JohnsonOn Monday 24 June the Scotland Institute published the most comprehensive investigation of the defence implications of Scottish independence ever conducted. Professor Mark Webber, Head of the School of Government and Society was the Chief Researcher on this project. The report – overseen by a panel of experts – concludes that an independent Scotland would be less prepared and less able than the UK to discharge the fundamental responsibility of protecting its citizens.2013-06-25T17:13:00Z2014-03-11T09:01:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2013/06/defence-security-independent-scotland.aspxSyria casts its shadow as G8 leaders gatherNathan JohnsonProfessor Stefan Wolff: Where does all this leave Syria and its people? The short answer is "on their own". The pursuit of self-interest by powerful outsiders overlaps only marginally with what Syrians need in order to achieve an end to the violence they have suffered for more than two years now.2013-06-21T16:48:00Z2014-03-11T09:02:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/syria-stefan-wolff.aspxThe Conversation: Taliban talks are at centre of bid for joined-up peace dealNathan JohnsonThe announcement by the United States that it intends to enter into direct negotiations with the Afghan Taliban represents a significant opportunity to manage the Western "exit" from the country by the end of 2014. The fact that the announcement was made at the G8 meeting and that the Taliban have not rejected it is relatively promising.2013-06-20T10:18:00Z2013-08-08T10:23:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/taliban-talks-are-at-centre-of-bid-for-joined-up-peace-deal-15359The Conversation: From Arab Spring to regional sectarian warNathan JohnsonThe promise by Syrian rebel leader Selim Idriss this week that "we are allowed to fight Hezbollah fighters inside [Lebanese] territory" was a chilling intimation of what may lie ahead for the region.2013-06-07T10:24:00Z2013-08-08T10:24:00Zhttp://theconversation.com/from-arab-spring-to-regional-sectarian-war-15009Blog: Helping donors to 'think politically': Going beyond the orthodoxy.Nathan JohnsonThis post marks the first of the series of papers that were presented by some members of IDD staff who attended the International Studies Association Conference at San Francisco in April 2013. Dr. Heather Marquette and Dr. Jonathan Fisher at the conference organised a panel called 'Politicising or Depoliticising Aid? The Political Economy of Political Economy Analysis', and presented a joint paper on 'Donors Doing Political Economy Analysis: From Process to Product (and back again?).2013-06-06T08:45:00Z2013-07-19T14:58:00Zhttp://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/helping-donors-to-think-politically-going-beyond-the-orthodoxy/IDD academic was invited to speak at the OECD-DAC 17th GovNet Network on Governance Plenary MeetingNathan JohnsonDr Heather Marquette, IDD's Director of Research and Academic Director of the GSDRC, was an invited speaker on 'Political Economy Analysis: Challenging the Orthodoxy?' at the OECD-DAC 17th GovNet Network on Governance Plenary Meeting, Paris, 24-25 April 2013.2013-06-03T11:39:00Z2013-06-03T11:31:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/05/heather-marquette-political-economy-analysis.aspxForeign aid and whether breaking the 0.7% promise really mattersNathan Johnson"At the last UK general election all three main parties pledged to spend 0.7% of Gross National Income on foreign aid. The 2010 Coalition government's agreement not only ratified this figure but vowed to "enshrine this commitment in law". Three years on, this bill has still not been enacted by parliament and was notably missing from the 2013 Queen's Speech."2013-05-31T15:06:00Z2013-05-31T14:45:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/foreign-aid-jiesheng-li.aspxEvaluating the impact of aid: which way forward?Nathan JohnsonIDD's Claire Mcloughlin was part of a panel of experts who took part in a Guardian Live debate on the best ways to evaluate the impact of development assistance.2013-05-17T15:03:00Z2013-05-17T14:49:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/05/evaluating-impact-aid.aspxBlog: African donors and Somali ownership: The elephant at the Somalia ConferenceNathan JohnsonAnd so it ends. After months of preparation, fretting over guest lists, measuring flags and re-drafting seating arrangements, the Somalia Conference is over. The final communiqué has been issued, the speeches uploaded to YouTube and the attendees prepped for the next leg of the reconstruction roadshow. Jonathan Fisher is a lecturer in international development, researching the relationship between Western aid donors and developing states.2013-05-14T08:41:00Z2013-07-19T14:59:00Zhttp://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/african-donors-and-somali-ownership-the-elephant-at-the-somalia-conference/ESRC Seminar Series: 'The Future of American Power'Nathan JohnsonOn Friday April 19 Dr Adam Quinn of POLSIS convened the first event of the ESRC Seminar Series on 'The Future of American Power', on which he is principal investigator.2013-05-09T10:00:00Z2013-05-09T09:57:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/05/future-american-power.aspxEuropean Politics During the Crisis: Developing Research AgendasNathan JohnsonThe POLSIS European Studies Research Group hosted a research workshop on Wednesday 01 May. The workshop, titled "European Politics During the Crisis: Developing Research Agendas"2013-05-09T09:54:00Z2013-05-09T09:47:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/05/european-politics-during-crisis.aspxWhy national politics is a mixed blessing in today's local electionsNathan JohnsonLocal elections will be held today in 34 councils, for 2,362 seats in 27 county councils and seven mainland unitaries. There are also two mayoral elections. Gains and losses will be measured in terms both of seats won and which parties have overall control of which councils.2013-05-03T07:28:00Z2013-05-03T07:24:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/05/BirminghamBrief0105.aspxLocal Elections 2013Nathan JohnsonVoters in 27 county councils and seven unitary authorities will head to the polls on Thursday 02 May. With 2,362 seats up for grabs, four INLOGOV academics examine the key issues.2013-05-02T08:02:00Z2014-03-11T12:08:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/local-elections-2013.aspxThe Telegraph 'Analysis: Chechnya Casts a Long Shadow Over the Boston Marathon'Nathan JohnsonCerwyn Moore of the University of Birmingham looks at the troubled history of Russia's Muslim republics.2013-04-22T10:56:00Z2014-08-20T10:57:00Zhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/10008084/Analysis-Chechnya-Casts-a-Long-Shadow-Over-the-Boston-Marathon-Bombings.htmlCalculation and Miscalculation on the Korean PeninsulaNathan JohnsonWhile it is sometimes tempting to see the regime of Kim Jong-eun as superficially comical, with its extravagant uniforms, dynastic worship and wild rhetoric, it is also important not to underestimate the serious risk of miscalculation and military escalation inherent within the current crisis. While there are many aspects of the present situation that are familiar to observers of the hermit state, there are also enough differences to give concern that this manufactured crisis could end differently.2013-04-19T12:16:00Z2013-04-19T11:51:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/04/Calculation-and-Miscalculation-on-the-Korean-Peninsula.aspxResearch project: Community governance in a context of decentralisation (November 2012 - April 2013)Nathan JohnsonThis review will explore why these crucial concerns remain unresolved and consider creative responses to issues of demand, mobilisation, equity and risk.2013-04-11T10:59:00Z2013-04-11T10:40:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2013/community-governance-context-decentralisation.aspxResearch project: Towards transformative co-production in local public services (November 2012 - April 2013)Nathan JohnsonThis review explore the tensions in thinking about co-production as a substitutive response to austerity and consider when, where and how citizens and professionals can work together to deliver transformation in local public services.2013-04-11T10:59:00Z2013-04-11T10:41:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2013/towards-transformative-co-production-in-local-public-services.aspxResearch project: Ways of Knowing: Exploring the different registers, values and subjectivities of collaborative research (February 2013 - January 2014)Nathan JohnsonThis diverse inter-disciplinary project will draw together different perspectives produced through collaborative research generating a range of resources aimed at different audiences to inform the development of creative and reflexive collaborative practice.2013-04-11T10:58:00Z2013-04-11T10:38:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2013/ways-knowing.aspxResearch highlight: The Political Effects of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles on Conflict and Cooperation within and between States (2013 -)Nathan JohnsonThis project will examine the impact of a recent and on-going development in science and technology (drones) on prospects for conflict and cooperation in countries where drones are deployed. Professor Nicholas Wheeler (PI).2013-03-26T15:16:00Z2013-03-26T14:59:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/polsis/2013/unmanned-aerial-vehicles.aspxCall for papers: Making Politics Practical II: Development Politics and the Changing Aid EnvironmentNathan JohnsonWe welcome papers that further our understanding of the politics of development, whether this is within developing countries or the development community. Although we would like to keep this call for papers as open as possible, we have preference for papers that address one of the following: the politics of aid; political settlements within developing countries; political analysis/political economy analysis; new governance challenges; the politics of service delivery; state-building; and the challenges of delivering aid in fragile states.2013-03-22T15:36:00Z2013-03-22T15:19:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/events/2013/making-politics-practical.aspxBirmingham Fellows: Full Circle - Episode OneNathan JohnsonDr. Kostas Nikolopoulos (School of Physics and Astrology) interviews Dr. Sara Jones (Department of Political Science and International Studies) about her research analysing the political, social and cultural processes of remembering state socialism. Birmingham Fellows are outstanding post-doctoral researchers at the University of Birmingham, recruited from around the world. Early-career researchers, they are poised to become the academic and research leaders of tomorrow.2013-03-21T10:43:00Z2013-03-21T15:15:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2013/03/birmingham-fellows-full-circle.aspx50th Anniversary Seminar on Eastern Europe after 1989Nathan JohnsonAt the invitation of Dr Deema Kaneff, Prof. D. Segert from the University of Vienna came to CREES to present a talk in the 50th Anniversary Seminar Series on 'Eastern Europe after 1989 - a laboratory for the sustainability of democracy?'2013-03-20T15:01:00Z2013-03-21T10:50:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2013/03/eastern-europe-after-1989.aspxLibya two years on: the African Union perspectiveNathan JohnsonProfessor Paul Jackson's perspective piece, reflecting on Libya two years after the NATO's military intervention in the country.2013-03-18T09:52:00Z2013-07-11T09:50:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/libya-two-years-on.aspxLibya two years on: The management of contemporary security challengesNathan JohnsonProfessor Stefan Wolff's perspective piece, reflecting on Libya two years after the NATO's military intervention in the country.2013-03-18T09:52:00Z2013-07-11T11:51:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/stefan-wolff-libya-perspective.aspxSistine Chapel chimney could get sootierNathan JohnsonBenedict XVI told the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square on 24 February 2013 that his retirement 'doesn't mean abandoning the church'. Many Catholics, though, including those who are not church goers, consider his unexpected resignation as the Vicar of Christ, an ill-thought out decision that will lead to an irreparable desacralization of the role.2013-03-01T13:16:00Z2013-03-01T13:15:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/03/sistine-chapel-chimney-could-get-sootier.aspxScandals, cover-ups and resignations: Is Eastleigh the by-election to reinvigorate British politics?Nathan JohnsonA high profile political resignation following a legal scandal, allegations of sexual misconduct, two political 'partners' tearing at each other's throats, controversial candidates grabbing the headlines for the wrong reasons and the future positions of the Prime Minister and his Deputy placed under the microscope.2013-02-28T17:04:00Z2013-07-11T09:27:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2013/02/eastleigh-by-election.aspxBlog: Political Activism, Legal Discourses and Sexual violence in India: What Does the Delhi Rape Case Reveal?Nathan JohnsonThe brutal incident of rape and murder in December 2012 of a 23 year old student on a bus in Delhi has been the catalyst of intense social and political activism against sexual violence in India. Written by Geetanjali Gangoli and Martin Rew.2013-02-11T08:38:00Z2013-07-12T08:39:00Zhttp://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/political-activism-legal-discourses-and-sexual-violence-in-india-what-does-the-delhi-rape-case-reveal/Beyond the State - mobilising and co-producing with communitiesNathan JohnsonWritten with community activists and policy researchers, the pamphlet provides case studies and analysis of UK and US experience in community organising to solve problems and improve public services. The pamphlet is one output from an ESRC seminar series on 'Government beyond the State', which brought together researchers from across the world with people involved in making policy, delivering public services and working with communities. The pamphlet features contributors from CitizensUK, Locality and Scope and a Chicago-based organisation, Pilsen Alliance.2013-01-29T11:26:00Z2013-01-29T11:04:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/beyond-the-state.pdfBlog: A small blow for people's history: the Paraguay ReaderNathan JohnsonThis post is based on the introduction to The Paraguay Reader: History, Culture, Politics (Duke University Press, 2012), edited with Peter Lambert. Andrew Nickson has extensive worldwide experience of teaching, research and consultancy on public administration reform, decentralisation, and the reform of basic service delivery and regulation of privatised public utilities.2013-01-22T08:34:00Z2013-07-12T08:35:00Zhttp://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/a-small-blow-for-peoples-history-the-paraguay-reader/IDD and ODI researchers examine the politics of public services in conflict-affected countriesNathan JohnsonHow can politics enable, as opposed to constrain, better public services in conflict-affected countries? IDD and ODI researchers have collaborated to examine the politics of progress on water and sanitation in Colombo, Sri Lanka.2013-01-17T12:28:00Z2013-01-17T12:18:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2013/01/researchers-examine-the-politics-of-public-services-in-conflict-affected-countries.aspxEconomic and Social Research Council ScholarshipsNathan JohnsonThe University of Birmingham is now accepting nominations for ESRC funding starting in October 2013. The University of Birmingham ESRC Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) is one of 21 across the UK that has been accredited by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).2012-12-12T16:33:00Z2014-03-11T09:06:00Zhttps://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/studentservices/graduateschool/funding/competitions/esrc.aspxGeorgian Ambassador Visits CREESNathan JohnsonHighlighting the deep interest in the politics, society and history of the Caucasus at the University of Birmingham and the strong links between the Centre for Russian and East European Studies (CREES) and the diplomatic community, CREES hosted Georgia's Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland Giorgi Badridze on Wednesday 21 November 2012.2012-11-29T13:51:00Z2013-01-31T16:30:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/11/georgian-ambassador-visits-crees.aspxBirmingham perspective: Georgia's Parliamentary Elections - Democracy in Action?Nathan Johnson"There is no doubt that the Parliamentary elections held in Georgia this autumn yielded to a new era in the country's politics. Despite the fact that it was the 8th Parliamentary elections conducted in the small post-Soviet state since 1990, they have been dubbed as 'landmark' and 'historic' since it is the first time that the transfer of power in Georgia has occurred through free and fair elections." Written by Nino kemoklidze, CREES PhD researcher.2012-11-29T13:28:00Z2014-03-12T07:04:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/georgias-parliamentary-elections-kemoklidze2.aspxBirmingham Perspective: UK aid to RwandaNathan Johnson"The question that must be answered is this: on what basis did Andrew Mitchell make the decision to restore UK aid to Rwanda?" by Dr Danielle Beswick, lecturer in International Development2012-10-17T14:27:00Z2013-07-11T12:12:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/andrew-mitchell-dbeswick2.aspxINLOGOV Professor joins Olympic Legacy Project Evaluation TeamNathan JohnsonProfessor Tony Bovaird of INLOGOV has joined the research team of Grant Thornton and ECOTEC Research and Consulting (now Ecorys), which has been commissioned by the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to conduct a three-year Meta-Evaluation of the Impacts and Legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.2012-08-16T17:45:00Z2012-08-16T11:38:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2012/08/professor-joins-olympic-legacy-project-evaluation-team.aspxBlog: R2P: Implications for World Order (Part 1)Nathan JohnsonThe West's intervention in Libya and the on-going violence in Syria have placed a renewed spotlight on the principle of the responsibility to protect (R2P) human life. In this first post of a two part series, Dr Edward Newman argues that far from emerging into an new international 'norm', R2P is exposing fissures in a changing global order.2012-08-03T14:48:00Z2012-08-03T14:29:00Zhttp://polsis.org/2012/08/03/r2p-implications-for-world-order-part-1/A new future for Egypt: Reflections on the Muslim Brotherhood's election victoryNathan Johnson"On Sunday 24 June 2012, Egypt's presidential election commission announced that Muslim Brotherhood (MB) candidate Dr Mohamed Morsi won the presidency, defeating ex-premier Ahmed Shafiq. Morsi has thus become the first Islamist to be elected head of an Arab state." - Dr Michelle Pace2012-07-02T13:58:00Z2013-07-11T11:55:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/perspective/reflections.aspxCounter-Terrorism Center, West Point 'The Threat from Swarm Attacks: Case Studies from the North Caucasus'Nathan JohnsonWritten by Dr Cerwyn Moore. Swarm attacks are high-risk, coordinated assaults sometimes directed against multiple targets or building complexes, using mobile groups to circumvent security measures, allowing attackers to inflict casualties, garner news coverage and, in recent years, to inflict considerable damage prior to the neutralization of the assailants.2012-05-23T11:05:00Z2014-08-20T11:06:00Zhttps://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/the-threat-from-swarm-attacks-case-studies-from-the-north-caucasusTaylor Verdict is a Warning to OthersNathan JohnsonThe landmark verdict on April 26th against the former Liberian President, Charles Taylor, is an important warning for those who perpetrate war crimes. Finding Taylor guilty of war-time atrocities during the war in Sierra Leone between 1991 and 2002, shows that no-one can be above the law.2012-05-03T19:03:00Z2014-03-11T10:05:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2012/05/Taylor-Verdict-is-a-Warning-to-Others.aspxBuilding Mutual Nuclear Security with IranNathan JohnsonProfessor Nicholas Wheeler: "A fundamental problem of international politics is that we can rarely be sure whether we are dealing with aggressive or defensive states. Mutual security is possible between defensive states, and aggressors can only be balanced or deterred. But confusing these two types of states carry risks for national welfare and international security."2012-04-30T14:41:00Z2013-07-11T14:42:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/nuclear-security.aspxBuilding Mutual Nuclear Security with IranNathan JohnsonWhy has a solution to the decade long nuclear stand-off with Iran proved so elusive? Based on ongoing research into the dynamics of nuclear rivalries, and the role of trust in international politics, we argue that the main obstacle to solving the crisis over Iran's nuclear program is that neither side believes that it is possible to reassure the other without this reducing their own security. Recent talks in Istanbul suggest that a new path to mutual security might be opening up, but there are still challenges ahead.2012-04-30T08:32:00Z2013-07-11T15:31:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2012/04/Building-Mutual-Nuclear-Security-with-Iran.aspxResearch project: The 2011 Multiparty Elections in Uganda: Towards a Consolidated Democracy (2010 - 2012)Nathan JohnsonThis project will examine every aspect of the 2011 elections, including the role of international donors, party financing, security personnel, ethnic politics and socio-cultural phenomena, in an attempt to assess whether it represents a step towards a consolidated, multiparty democracy for Uganda.2012-04-27T13:36:00Z2014-03-11T10:06:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/idd/2010/2011-multiparty-elections-uganda.aspxResearch project: International Perceptions and African Agency: Uganda and its donors 1986-2010 (2011 - 2012)Nathan JohnsonThis project investigates the place of African states in the international system and seeks to understand what space exists for aid-dependent governments to exercise agency in relations with donors. In exploring these issues it focus on the case of Uganda's NRM regime which has enjoyed very substantial international support despite its increasingly authoritarian nature, destabilising regional policy and questionable human rights record.2012-04-27T13:36:00Z2014-03-11T10:07:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/idd/2011/international-perceptions-african-agency.aspxCREES wins European Commission funding for International Staff ExchangeNathan JohnsonDr Jeremy Morris is representing CREES in a €256,000 European Commission, International Research Staff Exchange Scheme, awarded to the project: 'Imagining Development: A Multidisciplinary and Multilevel Analysis of Development Policies and their Effect in the Post-Socialist World.'2012-04-26T14:54:00Z2014-03-11T16:49:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/04/european-commission-funding-international-staff-exchange.aspxIDD academics publish U4 Issues Paper on corruption indicators and budget supportNathan JohnsonSumedh Rao and Dr Heather Marquette have published a U4 Issues Paper on 'Corruption indicators in Performance Assessment Frameworks (PAFs) for budget support'.2012-03-22T12:48:00Z2014-03-11T10:09:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2012/03/corruption-indicators-and-budget-support.aspxThe Afghan ResetNathan JohnsonAfghanistan is rarely out of the headlines — and seemingly for the wrong reasons. At the beginning of March, six UK military personnel were killed by a Taliban attack in what was the single worse loss of life for UK ground forces since the launch of the NATO–led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan. Birmingham brief written by Professor Mark Webber, Professor of International Politics.2012-03-21T11:07:00Z2013-07-11T15:32:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2012/03/The-Afghan-Reset.aspxModel United Nations on Campus 2012Nathan JohnsonOn Friday 20 January 2012 the School of Government and Society held two Model United Nations debates as part of its programmes of events to enhance student experience. Supported by staff from IDD and POLSIS and with additional help from the UN Society based in the Guild, the event involved almost 50 Undergraduate students being assigned country roles in two debates.2012-02-03T16:20:00Z2014-04-29T10:52:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/news/school-wide/2012/02/model-united-nations-campus-2012.aspxPhD Doctoral research profile: Tom DisneyNathan JohnsonOrphan Care and Imprisonment in the Russian Federation.2012-02-03T11:16:00Z2014-03-11T16:47:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/gees/people/dr-students/disney-tom.aspxPhD Doctoral research profile: Jacob DilbertoNathan JohnsonGlobal Counter Insurgency: New challenges to Isl2012-01-31T16:26:00Z2012-01-31T16:19:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/doctoral-researchers/profiles/dilberto-jacob.aspxI don't think Islam is more intolerable than any other religionNathan JohnsonGalina Yemelyanova talks about Islam in Russia and in the world in a recent article for Pulse UK a weekly Russian newspaper.2012-01-30T12:19:00Z2014-03-11T16:41:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/2012/01/islam-religion-russia.aspxGovernance report on ParaguayNathan JohnsonThe United Nations Development Programme, New York and its Oslo Governance Centre have published a critical evaluation report by Andrew Nickson that examined the 'lesson learnt' from a UNDP project that financed a survey of citizen views on governance in Paraguay and that sought to establish an associated regular governance monitoring system.2012-01-25T11:07:00Z2014-03-11T10:16:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2012/01/governance-report-paraguay.aspxResearch project: Shrinking the state: analysing the reform of arm's length bodies (2012 - 2015)Nathan JohnsonThis three year project will analyse the UK Coalition Government's major reform of 'arm's length bodies' (ALBs – often called 'quangos'). Quangos are a frequent focus for public, political and media criticism, regarded as unaccountable, wasteful, and self-serving. But they are also indispensible to modern government, preventing ministers from becoming overloaded, bringing expert advice and management to complex policy issues, and undertaking regulatory and quasi-judicial tasks that need to be politically independent.2012-01-24T11:44:00Z2014-03-11T11:36:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/inlogov/2013/shrinking-the-state.aspxAlumni profile: Caroline Littlewood, MSc International Development (Urban Development)Nathan JohnsonWhat I enjoyed most I guess was first of all studying within a really international range, being able to work with students from all over the world. Also what I really liked about the IDD programme is that it allows you to do the research for your dissertation abroad so it's combined with very hands on field research which was really the deciding point for me why I choose this degree.2012-01-23T12:18:00Z2014-07-17T14:25:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/alumni/profiles/postgraduate/2011-12/littlewood-caroline.aspxPhD Doctoral research profile: Karena AvedissianNathan JohnsonResearch title: Identity and the Mobilisation of Social Movements in the North Caucasus2012-01-23T11:33:00Z2014-03-11T16:43:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/doctoral-researchers/profiles/avedissian-karena.aspxPhD Doctoral research profile: Annie GibneyNathan JohnsonResearch title: Understanding the Possibilities and Limits of European Workforce Development for the 'Knowledge Era': A Multi-level Governance Approach.2012-01-19T14:38:00Z2012-01-19T14:33:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/doctoral-researchers/profiles/gibney-annie.aspxBlog: India and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesNathan JohnsonThe 2006 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities marked a watershed moment for the worldwide disability movement, but can it really make a difference to the lives of millions of disabled people around the world, many of whom are living in conditions of extreme poverty? This was one of the questions on my mind when I visited India, one of the first countries to sign and ratify the Convention, at the beginning of this year.2012-01-16T12:20:00Z2014-03-11T10:43:00Zhttp://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/india-and-the-un-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities/The Birmingham Perspective... The politics of sporting mega eventsNathan Johnson"The London Olympics will undoubtedly be a spectacular success and bring with it a number of memorable sporting moments. Beyond the two weeks of action, however, it is worth reflecting on the increasingly political use of sport by a wide variety of states throughout the world."2012-01-06T18:12:00Z2013-07-11T15:14:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/sport-grix.aspxThe Politics of Sporting Mega Events: do the benefits justify the budgets?Nathan JohnsonThe London Olympics will undoubtedly be a spectacular success and bring with it a number of memorable sporting moments. Beyond the two weeks of action, however, it is worth reflecting on the increasingly political use of sport by a wide variety of states throughout the world. In recent years, there has been a shift from advanced capitalist states to developing, small or 'emerging' states who have queued up to stage a sporting mega-event.2012-01-06T17:21:00Z2013-07-11T15:53:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/thebirminghambrief/items/2012/01/05jan12-sportmegaevents.aspxBriefing paper: Fit for Purpose Leadership in the Public SectorNathan JohnsonLecture to mark the 45th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Local Government Studies. Birmingham University. "UK recovery will require strong public sector leadership confident of its special role and more closely connected with those it serves".2011-12-21T14:30:00Z2014-03-11T11:31:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/leadership-public-sector.pdfPostgraduate Open Day - 07 February 2012Nathan JohnsonOur next Postgraduate Open Day will be held on Tuesday 07 February 2012.The Postgraduate Open Day gives you the opportunity to talk to the experts and find out more about the wide portfolio of taught and research opportunities available to you at the University of Birmingham. Whatever stage you are at with your career, a visit to the Postgraduate Open Day will clarify your options and help you plan your next step.2011-12-15T13:48:00Z2014-03-11T09:14:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/visit/pg-opendays.aspxHighlighted research project: Beyond ethnicity? The politics of building national identity after conflict in Rwanda (2011 - 12)Nathan JohnsonThis project analyses strategies used to create 'new' national identities after violent ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka and Rwanda and explores their implications. Both states experienced civil wars ended by a military victory and the substantial defeat of armed opposition within national territory. Post conflict governments in both states expressed an intention to promote a new national identity, replacing and de-legitimising ethnicity.2011-12-15T12:19:00Z2014-03-11T10:41:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/idd/2011/beyond-ethnicity-conflict-rwanda.aspxHighlighted research project: PEACE - Local Ownership and Peace Missions (2011 - 13)Nathan JohnsonA team of researchers at IDD has won EU funding for a project that could help transform international peacebuilding and statebuilding missions. Dr. Nicolas Lemay-Hébert, supervised by Professor Paul Jackson and Dr Heather Marquette, has begun a two-year Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship that will deepen understanding of 'local ownership'.2011-11-22T15:45:00Z2014-03-11T10:38:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/research/projects/idd/2011/local-ownership-peace-missions.aspxBuilding a Transparent System of Global AidNathan JohnsonHaving transparent mechanisms for distribution of global aid is hugely important. It allows scrutiny to ensure money is used effectively. The global aid landscape has changed drastically with the rise of southern donors like India and China. This makes it even more important that transparency for public flows of development aid should be non-negotiable, irrespective of whether or not they are official development assistance.2011-11-22T15:28:00Z2014-03-11T10:39:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2011/11/building-a-transparent-system-of-global-aid.aspxBlog: Does Brundtland's sustainable development need a human dimension?Nathan JohnsonAs anyone working or interested in environment and development will know, the most often cited definition of sustainable development is the one given in the 1987 report Our Common Future, produced by the World Commission on Environment and Development (more commonly known as the Brundtland Report, after the chair of the Commission, Gro Harlem Brundtland)2011-11-14T13:11:00Z2014-03-11T10:39:00Zhttp://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/does-brundtland%e2%80%99s-sustainable-development-need-a-human-dimension/Research diaries: Week in Nepal - six months onNathan JohnsonSix months ago Professor Paul Jackson visited Nepal as part of a long term project for the UK's Department for International Development and an international NGO, Saferworld. As an adviser to the secretariat he was charged with managing the Maoist combatants following the ten year war in Nepal. Professor Jackson had previously spent a week in Nepal in March/April 2011|, the following blog is concerning his return to the country.2011-11-03T10:06:00Z2014-03-11T10:40:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/blogs/nepal-six-months-on.aspxCall for Papers: The Future of Global Economic GovernanceNathan JohnsonIn the wake of the global financial crisis and the onset of the eurozone sovereign debt crisis, existing mechanisms of global economic governance have faced strong theoretical, political, and normative challenges from a wide range of actors operating across multiple spheres in the global political economy. The 2012 BISA International Political Economy Group conference brings together scholars working on global economic governance across a broad range of topics and issue-areas.2011-10-27T12:30:00Z2011-10-27T12:26:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2011/10/future-global-economic-governance.aspxPOLSIS Students participates in Study China ProgrammeNathan JohnsonSylwia Samira Kowalczuk, International Relations student in POLSIS, was awarded a place on the UK government-funded Study China Programme.2011-10-06T18:52:00Z2011-10-31T11:32:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2011/10/students-participates-study-china-programme.aspxGovernments and Non-governmental Service Providers: Collaboration or Rivalry?Nathan JohnsonPublication of a special journal issue on relations between governments and non-governmental organizations.2011-10-06T18:40:00Z2014-03-11T10:38:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2011/10/governments-non-governmental-service-providers.aspxThe Birmingham Perspective... A response to Professor Jon Glasby's critique of the Health and Social Care BillNathan Johnson"...the Health and Social Care Bill does provide opportunities to do some things better, which many local authorities are already using for the benefit of their communities. Health and Wellbeing Boards bring some local democratic accountability to assessment of need and the allocation of increasingly scarce resources to deliver more positive outcomes." - Catherine Staite. Read the perspective...2011-10-06T18:18:00Z2014-03-11T11:28:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/other-staite.aspxBlog: You can't mandate collaborationMadame System AdministratorLocal and national government in Wales have collided over an attempt by the Local Government Minister to require local authorities to work together to deliver public services. The Minister's proposals aligned groups of local authorities with the seven health boards with the aim of improving co-operation across councils and with health boards to generate more efficient and effective delivery of local public services. Welsh local government and the WLGA objected to these proposals and have refused to implement them.2011-10-04T08:15:00Z2015-02-10T10:07:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2011/10/you-cant-mandate-collaboration.aspxBlog: Conflict, Security and Development: an introductionNathan JohnsonPaul Jackson and Danielle Beswick published a new textbook in June: Conflict, Security and Development: An Introduction. It is the first textbook to really address the core issues linking conflict and development. We asked Paul to describe the process of writing it and to talk about the issues it discusses.2011-09-19T13:42:00Z2014-03-11T10:37:00Zhttp://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/conflict-security-and-development-an-introduction/Sharing Knowledge, Shaping FuturesNathan JohnsonBrowse an overview of IDD's recent research, teaching, consultancy and publications.2011-09-14T16:17:00Z2014-03-11T10:38:00Zhttp://www.download.bham.ac.uk/idd/pdfs/sharing-knowledge-shaping-futures/0.htmlReflections on 9/11 Ten Years onNathan JohnsonDr David H Dunn, Reader in International Politics in POLSIS, appeared on the BBC West Midlands Ed Dolan Show and BRMB local radio on Friday 09 of September 2011 to reflect on what has changed in world politics in the ten years since the terrorist attacks.2011-09-14T10:17:00Z2011-09-16T13:27:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/political-science-international-studies/news/2011/09/9-11-ten-years-on.aspxIDD staff member invited as guest lecturer at Norwegian universityNathan JohnsonBrian Lucas, manager of the Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, has been invited as a guest lecturer in Development Management at the University of Agder.2011-09-06T12:50:00Z2014-03-11T10:37:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2011/09/guest-lecturer-norwegian-university.aspxAfter Gaddafi – three questions for Libya and one on the regionNathan JohnsonAs Colonel Gaddafi's 42 years in charge of Libya draw to a seemingly climactic end – the dramatic scenes in Tripolil leave a series of questions that need to be urgently answered.2011-08-25T11:14:00Z2011-09-07T14:19:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/2011/08/23-Aug-Libya-what-next.aspxBriefing paper: Hung councils and local coalitions: where are they going, and how?Nathan JohnsonA few years ago, the 'political control' of the biggest group of councils in Great Britain was not Conservative or Labour, but 'hung' – in the arithmetical sense of no single party on a council holding more than 50% of the seats. Nationally, just one General Election in the whole post-war period (February 1974) had produced a hung parliament, followed by a few months of single-party minority rule, and no coalition government had been formed afresh after a General Election since the mid-19th Century.2011-08-24T12:53:00Z2014-03-12T12:54:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-social-sciences/government-society/inlogov/briefing-papers/local-coalitions.pdfBlog: Effects of the Arab SpringNathan JohnsonThe Arab Spring has been widely seen as a watershed event which has irrevocably changed the region and the global political landscape and led to a seismic shift in the social contract governing the relationship between Arab ruling elites and their populations. The Spring has demonstrated a strong regional dynamic: protests have spread within the Arab world because of the cultural affinity felt by Arabs, and have not been matched in other parts of the world facing similar problems.2011-07-26T17:38:00Z2014-03-11T10:35:00Zhttp://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/effects-of-the-arab-spring/University of Birmingham Policy Commission publishes report on the future of local public servicesNathan JohnsonThe report "When Tomorrow Comes - The Future of Local Public Services" proposes a new system of Local Public Support to replace the fragmented public service arrangements currently in place.2011-07-20T13:20:00Z2014-03-11T11:23:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/local-government-studies/news/2011/07/policy-commission.aspxHonourable Justice Robert Kisanga of Tanzania awarded honorary doctorate by the University of BirminghamNathan JohnsonIn recognition of a long and distinguished career in the judiciary in Tanzania following his initial law degree at the University of Birmingham in the 1960s, Justice Robert Kisanga has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University.2011-07-09T08:02:00Z2014-03-11T10:24:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2010/07/robert-kisanga-honorary-doctorate.aspxResearch diaries: Week in NepalNathan JohnsonThis visit to Nepal is part of a longer term project for the UK's Department for International Development and an international NGO, Saferworld. It supports me (Paul Jackson) as an adviser to the secretariat charged with managing the Maoist combatants following the ten year war in Nepal. Since the Comprehensive peace Agreement in 2006, the Maoist Army has been held in cantonments and, as part of the peace agreement, there have been discussions about what to do with them.2011-04-01T15:10:00Z2014-03-11T10:32:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/blogs/nepal.aspxAlternative Vote: An end to wasted votes and a triumph for democracy?Nathan JohnsonDr Karin Bottom: "The Liberal Democrats have long voiced a wish to replace the UK's Single Member Plurality voting system, more commonly termed First Past the Post (FPTP), arguing that it discriminates against smaller parties by failing to convert their votes into seats.". Dr Peter Kerr: "Many keen supporters of electoral reform and, indeed, any constitutional reform agenda which aims to strengthen processes of representation and accountability, may find it difficult to feel overly excited about the prospect of the introduction of the Alternative Vote (AV) for UK general elections."2011-03-02T14:54:00Z2013-07-11T15:41:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/debate/av.aspxInlogov Informs, Issue 1 - January 2011Nathan JohnsonResearch, Advice and support, Executive development and Postgraduate programme news from the Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham.2011-01-31T11:36:00Z2014-03-11T11:08:00Zhttp://www.download.bham.ac.uk/inlogov/enewsletter/January-2011/1.htmlKazakhstani team visits the University of Birmingham.Nathan JohnsonOn Saturday 16 October 2010 a group of MSc and PhD students from KBTU headed by the Kazakhstani project leader Dr. Svetlana Zhanabayeva visited University of Birmingham.2010-10-16T12:04:00Z2012-03-16T11:13:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/inspire/2010/10/kazakhstani-team-visits-birmingham.aspxKazakhstani team visits the University of Birmingham.Nathan JohnsonOn Saturday 16 October 2010 a group of MSc and PhD students from KBTU headed by the Kazakhstani project leader Dr. Svetlana Zhanabayeva visited University of Birmingham.2010-10-16T11:19:00Z2011-08-23T11:00:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/government-society/inspire/news/2010/10/kazakhstani-team-visits-birmingham.aspxLena Milosevic, Director of the British Council in Kazakhstan, visits the University of Birmingham.Nathan JohnsonOn June 15, 2010 Ms Lena Milosevic, Director of the British Council in Kazakhstan, visited the UoB and delivered an excellent talk entitled 'Kazakhstan: Big Country, Big Story' to an audience of staff and students of the University of Birmingham which raised their awareness about opportunities for academic collaboration between the UK and Kazakhstan.2010-06-15T14:12:00Z2012-03-16T11:06:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/russian-east-european-studies/news/inspire/2010/06/director-british-council-kazakhstan.aspxLena Milosevic, Director of the British Council in Kazakhstan, visits the University of Birmingham.Nathan JohnsonOn June 15, 2010 Ms Lena Milosevic, Director of the British Council in Kazakhstan, visited the UoB and delivered an excellent talk entitled 'Kazakhstan: Big Country, Big Story' to an audience of staff and students of the University of Birmingham which raised their awareness about opportunities for academic collaboration between the UK and Kazakhstan.2010-06-15T13:21:00Z2011-08-23T11:04:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/government-society/inspire/news/2010/06/director-british-council-kazakhstan.aspxIDD Alumni event - 'Dinner with a Dozen'Nathan JohnsonThe dinner offered IDD alumni an opportunity to interact with current staff and students and share their experiences in terms of life at the University, entering the workplace and developing a career. It also presented an opportunity for the department to explore ways in which future alumni involvement could add value to academic programmes and student life within IDD.2010-02-16T12:07:00Z2014-03-11T10:21:00Zhttp://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/government-society/departments/international-development/news/2010/03/alumni-dinner-dozen.aspx